Anxiety and Stress Forum - IBS, Headaches, and Stress

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Q: IBS, Headaches, and Stress

asked by: gayle14587 on April 7th, 2009

New User

Okay, I really don't know how I am going to ask this yet - so please bear with me. About 2 months ago I went to the doctor because I was having headaches everyday - at first I thought it was due to my long thick hair - until I did a hack-job and realized that that it wasn't it. So then I figured that it was TMJ, because I did have the popping and grinding about 4-5 years ago, but I still have some of the other symptoms and my dentist gave me a nightguard which helps alot - but my doctor doesn't believe me. So, she then wanted me to keep a headache journal and I did and she found out that I have a lot of family drama - so she made me take a test to see if I have depression - but found out that I didn't and then diagnosed me with actue stress reaction. She believes that is what is causing the IBS to act up and the headaches. So I looked up online to see what acute stress reaction was and is is possible to have acute stress reaction without a traumatic event happening?

Replies(1)

Dr. Jeff Bailey , Ed.D.

replied on May 25th, 2009

No depression, family issues, headaches - all good factors to create stress and anxiety. The stress can be source specific (relationship breakdown) or generalized (a whole lot of things). Acute means highly charged short term stress from a significant trigger. Chronic stress is persistent. The issue isn't really whether you need a major trigger (you typically do for acute s.d.) - the real issue is what is causing you to feel stressed at all. The headache journal was a good idea; why not keep a stress journal for a couple of weeks. Obviously, then, you need to have a therapist working with you on ways of resolving the stressors.
Best wishes
Dr Jeff
www.drjeffbailey.com

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