When I speak to interstitial cystitis support groups, I often tell a story that took place shortly after I was diagnosed for my painful bladder. (If you have heard this story before, please bare with me.)
We had just moved into a new house and took a weekend to wallpaper the kitchen. As many of you can relate, putting up wallpaper can definitely test a relationship! In fact, things were going along just fine until my husband lost his temper briefly about something. I literally doubled over with bladder pain, and he snapped again, "But you were fine just a second ago!"
Yes, I was fine just a second ago, but this scenario was the biggest example yet of how quickly stress can affect our bodies, particularly if you have a condition like interstitial cystitis.
What Is Stress?
Despite all of the psychological talk these days about
stress, many people are still not sure what it means and how stress can affect a condition like interstitial cystitis. For example, stress
itself is neither negative nor positive. Instead, it is our reaction to stress
that turns stress into “dis-stress.” Most interstitial cystitis/IC patients learn early that stress
can aggravate their bladder symptoms. Please understand; this is not the same as saying
that your symptoms are all in your head. Stress, more exactly the body’s
response to stress, produces chemical and physical changes that cause our
bodies to react in ways that are intended to protect us, but they can also
cause damage to our bodies, including our bladder.
The first thing to keep in mind is that stress can be either
“external” or “internal.” Examples of external or physical stress include loud
noises, extreme heat or cold, malnutrition, injuries, illnesses, toxins, travel,
heavy labor, exercise, harsh weather, smoking, and drug or alcohol use.
Internal stress can include emotions like anger, resentment, envy, revenge,
tension, anxiety, excitement, guilt, fear, rejection, failure, success,
depression, love, joy, expectations, boredom, and even frustration. If you are
surprised about the positive emotions being listed there, consider the stress
people experience when planning weddings or building their dream house!
Fight or Flight
To understand how these stresses create problems in our
body and particularly our bladders, it is important to understand the physiological reaction to stress.
Imagine
that a fire spontaneously breaks out in a store where you are shopping. Some of
the people around will call 911; some will work to fight the fire; and some will
flee, or run from the scene. The body’s physical responses to this stressful
situation (the “fight or flight” response) include:
- Increased release of stress hormones—frequently triggering
IC symptoms
- Surges of sugar released into the bloodstream—providing
quick energy for muscle and brain functions
- Accelerated heart rate, increased respiration, and increased
blood pressure—improving the flow of oxygen and energy to the muscles and brain
- Increased cholesterol and blood lipid levels—providing a
sustained form of energy
- Increased blood clotting ability—preparing the body to heal
potential wounds from “fighting”
- Increased sweating—keeping the body cool during “battle”
- Dilation of pupils—maximizing vision
- Slowed digestion and reduced immune function—allowing the
body to focus energy on the “stressful” event
Although all of these physical reactions are valuable when a
fire breaks out, many times the stressful events we experience do not require
the same level of physical activity that fighting a fire demands. For example,
when you are subjected to pressure at work, it is unlikely that you will
physically have a fight with your boss. Or, if you are in a traffic jam, you
probably are not going to get out of your car and start running. Yet, in each
case, your body goes through all of those physiological and chemical changes of
stress.
This unmanaged stress negatively affects body systems.
Many of these changes can affect your bladder if you have interstitial cystitis or even overactive bladder! Nutrition resources are depleted rapidly. The risk for heart disease and stroke
increases. Headaches and muscle aches are more common in people under stress.
Both men and women can experience fertility problems, and the body is more
susceptible to illness (cancer, infection, colds, and flu) because of a
weakened immune system.
Knowing this, now you can probably see how so many health
problems are stress related. People under stress are more susceptible to ulcers
and irritable bowel disease. Bingeing behavior can increase after a stressful
episode, making weight management difficult. On top of that, stress hormones
encourage fat to be stored. Finally, as most IC patients know, unmanaged stress
can cause an increase in urinary symptoms.
Managing Stress to Manage Your Bladder Symptoms
“I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is
best for everyone,
best both for the body and the mind.”
Albert Einstein
- Taking action if possible: Procrastinating on a project or
sweeping problems under the rug only increases stress in the long run.
- Committing to a healthy diet: A healthy diet not only keeps
the body from going into stress related to malnutrition, but it also
reestablishes nutritional balance when nutrients are depleted, and fortifies
the immune system.
- Getting up to move: Exercising gives the body something
physical to do when it is in a state of stress and reduces the effects of
stress by using up the chemicals released in the “fight or flight” phenomenon.
- Avoiding the temptation to “relax” by using alcohol or drugs
when under stress: These substances only increase stress on a body.
- Practicing deep breathing, yoga, massage, meditation, or
prayer: hugging someone; playing with a pet.
- Putting your problems into words: Talking to someone or
writing the thoughts down can help provide perspective.
- Practicing forgiveness: Forgiving those who have hurt you
and forgiving yourself for not being perfect can help you come to a place of
acceptance.
- Enjoying something “new”: Taking up a craft, or enrolling in
a class can help you feel a sense of accomplishment.
- Letting go when the situation cannot be changed: Putting
problems in the past is much healthier than obsessing about problems that can
never be solved.
PS: I just wanted to assure you that the wallpaper turned out beautifully! In fact, that was about 12 years ago, and we have redone the kitchen again with nary a cross word! :-)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STRESS AND INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS SEE:
Author, Speaker, Patient Advocate
Helping Yourself Is the First Step to Getting Well
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