I suppose this will sound odd to some of you, but then again, I have heard this from so many clients over the years. I was therefore not surprised when I received a question from a Member concerning his fear of going anywhere with others because his anxiety would hit him and usually in the gut. ” How embarrassing to all of a sudden feel an urgency to use a bathroom on the way to some social event !”

Anxiety usually means that there is a fear of being out of control. Anxiety effects the mind and body in a myriad of very uncomfortable ways, and can, or has paralyzed so many so they become housebound {Agoraphobia}. But even in less extreme cases, anxiety and panic attacks can effect a person’s day to day life.

While I always recommend a complete physical to determine if there any physical causal factors, in more cases than not, anxiety is emotionally driven. Most report these or some other anxiety symptoms have come and gone for years, even in some form in childhood.

One might not be surprised to hear that people who have learned at an early age to over-adapt, conform, or in ways have formed habits of avoiding conflict are more vulnerable. They are often the personality types who work hard to gain approval, but often at risk of not saying what they think or feel or not doing what they really want in order to not offend.

Often I have found that the gut is an area effected as we tighten-up when anxiety presents itself. So, between that physical reaction and not wanting to offend or look weak, the person is quietly suffering.

So what is wrong with saying to your friends, ” I need to pull over and use the restroom at Bob Evan’s or Denny’s ?” Nothing ! These are your friends and they should just be able to accept it and move on. If not, they are not your friends !

Gene Benedetto, Psychologist/Emeritus/Coach