tmholland

Catastrophizing is a word that is used a lot in the mental health field in which I work. This phenomenon can also be called a cognitive distortion. Mostly associated with...

What does that mean, you might ask? What does my mental health look like? Does it look like anything? It is very rare for me to have a conversation with...

I fear change. Some folks embrace and some actually thrive on it. But, when it comes to changing what may seem like your entire way of life due to illness...

Recently, I have spent a lot of time going over the website that is IrritableBowelSyndrome.net. I have been a contributor here for more than two years and I am pretty...

"Resentment is like drinking poison hoping the other person will die." I’ve heard this quote lots of times. Therapists have relayed these words, 12-step meetings, support groups of all types...

As I sit writing this, it is 95 degrees outside. That kind of hot where you can’t breathe. Depending on your physical condition, perhaps you shouldn’t be outside right now...

I love being around my family, swimming in the pool, playing horseshoes, and sitting by a fire. I also love barbecued ribs. I also love macaroni salad, hot dogs, hamburgers...

I don’t know if you’ve ever had a panic attack, but I have. I’m not going to go into the differences between a severe anxiety attack and a panic attack...

OK, so what the HELL? What’s with the bloat all of a sudden? I used to be able to say that I had most of the IBS symptoms, but I...

I have run across somewhat of a trend among some of the doctors that I have seen for various issues. Before continuing, I would like to put out the disclaimer...

I have been having a really bad month with my stomach. All of my various stomach issues seem to be ganging up on me and have really sucked the life...

I was wondering the other day if non-IBS people used the low FODMAP diet as a weight loss diet. I don’t generally pay much attention to formal ‘diets’ per se...

The other day I was speaking with someone about the intense pain that coincides with some IBS symptoms, cramping in particular. They referred to this type of pain as ‘emergency...

Someone asked me the other day how long a flare-up can last. I gave her the standard answer of two to four days. This is what my doctor told me...

I have Bi-Polar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, ADHD (if that exists :-), gastritis, ulcers and IBS. Hmmm. I got relatively lucky with the Bi-Polar, in that I...

So which is worse? Diarrhea or constipation? How about, which is worse, diarrhea, constipation or…diarrhea and constipation. I think we all know the answer to that question (depending on the...

I’m sort of an expert on stigma. There is stigma associated with bi-polar disorder, stigma attached to anxiety and personality disorders, stigma attached to being overweight, and a whole ton...

Ok, so we know IBS doesn’t ‘go away’. It may stay dormant for long periods, very long sometimes if we are really taking care of ourselves, but dormant. IBS cannot...

I have mentioned in previous articles that I have three stomach issues that I deal with. Based on comments from members of this site, I know that I am by...

After several years of learning how to treat my IBS, I know that I have learned a lot and have a pretty firm grip on what to do to take...