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Just had a quick question for everyone out there... I'm 19 years old and have had UC for a little more than 3 years now. Thankfully, I am enjoying an extended period of remission for now... My question has to do with anxiety.

For about a year and a half now I experience daily anxiety even when it comes to doing the most simple of everyday tasks. Leaving the house for college every morning is a daily battle and sitting through class is even more burdensome. Basically the only time I don't feel freaked out is when i'm sitting at home, but im not the type of person to do that and it drives me crazy just wasting away in my room all day. I often find myself creating excuses to friends about why I can't do this or go here, when in reality I'm just so anxious to leave the house i refuse to...I know this anxiety stems from the times I have been in flare up and have needed to sprint to the nearest men's room...

I finally feel ready to consult a "life coach" or psychologist about my anxiety issues. I am just a little hesitant b/c i am not sure what the procedure is to find a proper psychologist and i am afraid that it will be on my record when going for a job and such. Does anyone have experience with anxiety issues and the search for the right psychologist?

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

Hey! I thought I'd chime in as I just graduated from college and spent three years living on campus, and one on my own in an apartment.

general anxietyHi Jersey : )  Im sooo glad I could help.  Please keep me posted and if theres anything else I find out, Ill post it also.  Please post if you find out anything new also.  My daughter is going to start applying to different 4 year colleges to transfer next fall.  I think she has to start filling out the paperwork in Nov.  I think housing is the most stressful dealing with all that.  I know when she applied, before she decided to go to community college, on the housing application they try to match you up with people of common interests and she did put she has Ulcerative Colitis hoping maybe shed be matched up with someone else with UC or Crohns that would understand what she had to deal with.  I know at my sons 4 year college to be a RA, hed have to have a 2.5 GPA and the first semester you are a student you cant be an RA but you can the second semester if you have that GPA so maybe each school is different.  At his school, the RAs get a free room like a one room apartment and they get paid $200 a month also!!!!  Pretty good.  We live in California and we went up to a college up North and the dorms were soooo gross and the bathrooms were shared by girls and boys!!!  The transfer junior students got apartment type dorms though which are so much nicer.  The campus here host "Open Houses" certain times of the year and you can get tours also and you can see the campus and dorms and really get a great idea of the feeling of the campus.  My daughter also has friends that already are at the UCs or State campus so she can get an idea of campus life and dorm life.

 Reply posted for EZ.

Oh yes. The online classes are great! This past semester I took a "personal health and wellness class" online and this fall plan to take a Litature class as well. I try to take one online class a semester b/c it cuts down on the days I have to drive to campus, and it counts the same as being in the classroom too... As far as the information on living arragnements at 4 year schools, I REALLY appreciate the "heads up" you have given me. It will make scouting out these schools A LOT easier and less stressful... I'll keep you posted on how everything goes with the school search and living arrangements. thanks again!!

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

p.s.  Also, ask about being an RA (Residence Assitant) in the dorms.  Each floor has one besides getting their own room (for free) they get paid too.  I guess it would depend on each college campus how the dorms are set up whether they are like suite apartments or the old kind with all the rooms in a hall with a bathroom they all use.  The RA's may have private baths also.  I'm sure the disability office can help you.  One more thing, my daughter's pediatic IBD specialist had a social worker she worked with that was helping us with school issues like high school and college also which was such a big help.  The doc said she would supply a referral to a local doc in the area when she was going to college and they could consult each other just in case anything happened when she was away at college.  

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

My daughter is at community college also.  She has taken some classes online and says its easy and fun too.  Have you taken any online?  She took Health and Music online.  Anyway, she was accepted to 6 four year colleges but decided to go to community college and transfer first like you.  Best idea anyway and saves a ton of money too.  Before her decision, she was seriously considering a 4 year state college.  She had no idea what to do about housing.  My husband contacted the disability office and even though the housing was full at the time, all of a sudden there would be a space for her in the dorm, and a dorm closet to the campus.  I don't know if she would get her own private room but some dorms rooms are like apartments and the bathroom is inside the "suite" with it's own door and there's another room with just the shower with a door.  Investigate dorm rooms like that not the kind that have the bathroom down the hall altogether.  He also contacted the disability office of a UC that she didn't apply to but is interested in going to and the office said to contact again when she is applying.  They couldn't be nicer and more helpful.  Start calling the disability offices this summer that you are interested in and you will get so much great help and it will ease your axiety so much. 

 Reply posted for EZ.

This fall I will be attending my last semester of community college. Its about a 15 minute ride from my house and the way everything has worked out its a blessing I decided to go there out of high school. My second semester there I talked to the adminastration regarding my UC and everyone at the college, including professors, have been very sensitive to my situation... This summer I'm starting to look at 4 year schools to transfer to... I'm starting to get a little worried about the whole "living away" thing as well as dorm life and room mates. I'm not sure if I feel comfortable rooming with a bunch of kids I don't know and then having to explain my situation to them... Do you know if colleges can do anything pertaining to living arragements with people with UC? But all in all I'm looking forward to moving ahead with my education, its just the dorm life and campus life that is putting me a little on edge.

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

This forum is great.  I was wondering if you have talked to the disability office at your college.  They seem to be very helpful and also there are couselors in the health office that may help also.  College is stressful enough and then to deal with IBD can double the axiety. 

 Reply posted for EZ.

As of now I am taking: Colazal (3 pills 3 times a day), Imuran (150 mg a day), and Remicade infusions every 8 to 10 weeks... I havent gone into too much depth with my doctor about the emotional stuff. I've kind of been keeping it all inside for some time now.. I find this forum helpful and more so the fact that everyone here is or has been going through similiar things in their lives'. Everyone is very kind and helpful.

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

My 18 year old daughter has UC and was diagnosed about the same age as you were at 16.  I see how hard this has been especially at such a young age.  I'm so happy you are in remission.  My daughter is also.  Are you on any meds?  If so which ones?  Have you talked to your doc about how you are feeling?  Your doc may help you.  I think this is pretty common with IBD and you are not alone.  Maybe a support group would help also.  CCFA would help you find one.  Also this website is such a great support and the people on it are so nice and helpful. 

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

Yes I have been there.  After spending 6weeks in the house I started venturing out.  Boy did I have to talk myself through those first outings.  Even now if I am faced with a "new" situation or a day I am not feeling as well it is the same routine.  I try to decide what the "worst" that could happen.  how would I deal with it etc.  Also I have learned to open up and tell people about my illness.  I can say at 42 it still isn't easy but I can imagine 20 years ago i would have been horrified to have to share my situation.  

 Reply posted for jersey0812.

What you are going through is normal.  I think the majority of us can say we've been there, done that.  You have to begin by erasing the old tapes in your brain (I can't go out, what if, etc.) and start a clean slate.  Even if it means seeing a therapist.  I don't know why it would stop you from getting a job (are you in the U.S.A.?), it is private information that no one needs to know.  If it does stop you, you have legal rights. 

Small steps, take small steps.  When you are feeling anxious, stop and think about what is triggering the episode and see how you can change/adjust it.  Meditation is a great way to relax the mind also. 

I hope it all works out well for you.