Sudden Skin/digestive Problems While Starting Helpful Therapy?

[untiltoday]

Has anyone else noticed sudden (especially more frequent/worse) health problems when they started feeling "helped" by a new therapy/therapist/psych?

Yes, I had skin problems (eczema) and an IBD (digestive disease) before I started seeing this psych, but it seems as if:

-My stress, strong emotions, general "feeling crazy" has gone way down...even though I'm not sure what therapy is/does. (I've had so many poisonous therapist and psych experiences)

-While my stress has gone way down, it feels like all of the stress I've been holdling in for 10+ years is slowly evacuating my body through more frequent occurences of my digestive problems and skin issues.

Skin issues: I had to make this thread, because it is creepy how much my stress-related skin problems are seeming to happen on the exact opposite (symmetrical) sides of my body, such as the same spot on each leg, arm, or face part.

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

I'm tired so I'll keep it short, but it sounds like a good thing to me. Sounds like your psyche is calming down, your body finally has a chance to process the emotions. I myself have IBS and eczema, a slighly different combination, no fun.

Can I ask what kind of treatment you're getting? If you'd rather keep it to yourself that's no problem. I'm just curious as to which treatments might really work on ptsd and it sounds like yours is having a noticeable effect :P

 

[franciemarnie]

I like to think toxicity is coming out of you in every way your body can find to release it.

I had eczema on my feet and hands. All I can say is - ugh. It was such a drag.

I find my hair feels dirtier when Ive had a rough day, even though I washed it the night before.

My eczema is gone, but now I will get red hot spots on my body in certain situations. Moisturel calms it down. It has magnesium in it.

For sure our bodies manifest what's going on and are always trying to move out bad energy.

So glad therapy is helping!!

 

[untiltoday]

Thanks @franciemarnie I'd like to think that too! Yes: everything you mentioned is very much what I've noticed with this weird stuff.

@Radise See, that's a tricky question! The thing is: I've had so many bad therapists/psychs and I'm only in the "getting to know you" stage, but I guess it's simply the fact that I'm feeling that this psych is a trustworthy person and appears to believe me and my problems. :wacky: I still have problems trusting her (people in general) so far, but maybe it's just a matter of feeling safe in believing she's listening and also not about to turn on me?

I feel like I have a very protective intuition (sometimes TOO paranoid), but I'm feeling good about this psych: I've even been able to tell her a few things I've NEVER told ANYONE. Ever. So, maybe that's a big part of it too.
No instant fix/etc. but I feel like a huge weight is lifting.

I hope more of you can/are finding stress-detox in similar ways! ;)

 

[arfie]

Eczema and spastic colitis are my two bad girls. No eczema at the moment, but I sure ain't declaring myself cured. Eczema is a sneaky b. itch...

I, too, treat both like stress symptoms. Almost included, "...and diet" but in my case, lousy eating (if I eat at all) is also a stress symptom. An awful lot of my personal stress is caused by PTSD symptoms. Bygone events. Stuff I really don't want to even think about and I tend to project mightily at anybody around me when it comes up. Especially them high dollar meddlers that treat it like their job to help me face it. But... Sigh... Itch... Spasm... Scratch... More sighs... Back I went. Not perfect, but it helped once I "got with the program."

Hope your find what works for you, untiltoday. Whichever way you go, it seems to be an ongoing proposition.

 

[untiltoday]

Hi @arfie ! Yes, I count both as stress to, because out of all the "diets" I've tried in 12+ years: stress level is the only thing that makes a difference. The best thing I've found (randomly suggested by GI, but I'm a very anti-med kind of person in most cases) was an anti-spasm med called Hyosciamine (I'm no doctor, just thought I'd pass it on!). ;)

 

[Seasounds]

@untiltoday: In homeopathy, the theory says (something like) as healing occurs on the deepest layer (psychological and psychological) then a person may get more superficial (digestivion and skin) problems. As much as they are problems, within this belief system, your changes are very good signs, indeed! :) It means your old stress is getting expressed, rather than stored; this seems to go along with your sense of things.

As with others, this conversation is getting me to review my situation. Too close to call :joyful:.
.

 

[shimmerz]

Sounds to me like you are releasing. That is a good thing. Keep up the great work! It has to come out somehow otherwise is just swirls around endlessly inside of us.

 

[untiltoday]

Well, just to be clear: it's not any magic anything. It's been about 15+ years of stress I've been trying to get rid of for as long as I've had it all. ;)

And it's weird to get to a point now and not know what I finally am doing. Maybe arguing with myself in a more supportive way? But I'm not sure about that either. :confused:

Sorry to anyone who was hoping I had any helpful secret: I'd definitely tell you all if I did!

I have just been weirded out by these other things: the weird skin stuff in particular, but it's not something I would think a doctor would care to answer. (Sarcasm)

 

[The Albatross]

I remember once I worked in a job for 7 years that we called "hell" or "purgatory". Stress manifested for me with skin rashes. For my programmer friend, her hair fell out in more than ordinary amounts. For the hazardous materials gal, it kicked her in the stomach. We used to joke about the psychology of why each of us manifested it in a different way and if we would trade if we could.

Stress though is one part of the equation, what maintenance for eczema and IBD are you doing? Are you consistent? Is/are the treatment(s) effective?

I'm not at all sure that I would link the idea of therapy with these two conditions since you stated, that your stress and strong emotions have gone way down.

I know most often for myself, that when I have gastro intestinal issues, ear problems (I have eczema in my ears that needs treatment 2 weeks a month for dairy allergy - ear drops), and inflammation or rash... 90% of my difficulties are attributable to my behavior rather than a stress reaction like noncompliance with allergy medication, like skipping probiotics, eating inappropriate foods or drinking inappropriate liquids, dehydration, not using my ear drops/c-pap machine/eye drops.

Just wondering how you've been going on your self care/maintenance since starting therapy?

I would also reframe the idea, "Sudden skin/digestive problems while starting helpful therapy?"
The symptomology isn't "sudden", though your post title says that. Your initial post though calls it what it is: it is an increased frequency of two chronic conditions. Not ruling out the role of stress in this, as therapy can be an additional stresser... I just tend to take a hard look at my own self management first.

 

[Lucycat]

My Childhood eczema had virtually disappeared. Until I experienced extreme stress, and ever since then it has been a problem I find it interesting that it's more recent emergence has been in completely different areas of the body to that which affected me as a child.

I see eczema as a consequence of stress, not of therapy.

 

[Abstract]

Interestingly things such as eczema, IBS etc are listed as psychosomatic issues.I hate to get all scientific but it is usually increases in stress that trigger eruptions and symptoms because of an increase in stress hormones.

I wonder if you might have had a lot of emotional flooding in therapy even if you are feeling better all in all. I think there are large rushes of stress hormones and trauma that are released when we discuss very emotionally intense things.

My eczema and other inflammatory or immune complaints are often also a barometer of suppressed issues for me. When I am denying that something is wrong.

Really good to hear you are finding treatment so helpful this time! :)