Stress vs. IBS Which one came first?

Yesterday I was surfing the web and there was an article that I came across which stated that IBS came first and that anxiety/depression comes later because people have to learn how to manage their disease.

I think it comes from both fronts. Over 15 years ago I was put in a highly stressful situation when I had a change of roommates. My new roommate didn't like me too much and so I was getting blamed for everything. Back then I didn't know how to stand up for myself against my roommate and after almost two months of being with her I developed IBS. I never had it before, but I had never been under that much stress at one time. I got so sick I had to go home. For a while my IBS would go in waves of getting better or worse.

I trained myself to look for the nearest bathroom at every store so that "just in case" I had a flare up I could run to the bathroom.

Then a few years later I was in another stressful situation with an employer. One day I woke up took 12 capsules of activated charcoal and downed some Imodium and I was still running to the bathroom every 2 minutes or so. I should have been constipated by that time, but I wasn't. Here again I didn't know how to speak up for myself.

I go further with the supposed article. I believe that stress can activate IBS, then yes a person can have flare ups trying to manage their IBS, which can add more stress causing anxiety/depression. Unless you get yourself out of cycle. Which is something I had to learn. How to get myself out of a emotional cycle to where I wouldn't get the flare ups even with stressful conditions.

I have been practicing getting myself out of my emotional cycles for 3 years now. I am taking better care of my health and I have learned to speak up for myself in stressful situations. I eat a more balanced diet and try to be consistent with exercise. I have learned to manage my IBS, but I know that management is a life long pursuit.

Wish I had a biscuit

I have been trying an experiment to see what still makes me have flare ups from my IBS. I fount that if I have to much gluten it will set off my IBS. I have found a lot of good pasta's, cereals, and snack bars that are gluten free, wheat free. There is a big difference as far as all the gas and bloating that comes with IBS if I give in and have a regular biscuit. I love my carbs. LOL

I know that when I stay away from as much table sugar as possible that I don't get any flare ups either, but sometimes I can't resist a handful of , dare I say, m and m's.  Then I get a flare up.

I have noticed also that if I take indole-3-carbinol, this product helps to make my estrogen work better, that I don't get the flare ups as much either. Especially during my premenstral cycle.
There is a hormone connection with my body not utilizing my estrogens and IBS flare ups. Is it really the progesterone is too high or is it that the estrogen is too high because my body seems to be one that likes to store? ( I ask myself) I know that estrogen likes to be stored.

On with the experiment..........