Of course you are having problems! This is a scary thing and a big change in your transition period. Breathe deep. Try meditation. Take it slow. And when all else fails, talk to you doctor and admit that things are getting a little out of your control. There is no shame in having anxiety or admitting if you cannot handle it on your own, that you need help. Especially since it is linked heavily to GI disorders. Hang in there and give the first two methods a try, then consider the third. And if all else fails, find someone you are comfortable with and tell them what is going on. That often doesn't solve the problem for me, but it does help take some of the pressure off my shoulders for awhile. May it get better for you soon.

thanks so much,
I don't know why night time out is any different from lunch time but to me it is. I have a very understanding and compassionate friend who lets me unburden myself and she has very sage advice. The advantage of making it to 82 I guess. Things aren't so much out of control as I think I had an anxiety attack at all the potential things that could go wrong. I'm only just getting a handle on eating out comfortably during the day so maybe I jumped the gun in my enthusiasm. I'll regroup and try again another day.
Onward and upward.
Thanks so much for you words of wisdom and support. I'll focus more on my breathing again and use my relaxation cd.
Cas

Before, during and while currently dealing with this 'stomach pain' I was completing a course of cognitive behavior therapy for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

I generally create a list of what it issue is with all its possible scenarios - like a flow chart. I also focus on my breathing telling myself this will pass and distract myself. Another technique that was suggested was to actually monitor how other people are behaving instead of worrying about how you think you are being perceived (must stop self monitoring!) or more of how would you like to behave in this situation with a case of fake it till you make it!

Dinners out are hard because of the expectation that it is more than just a quick snack. I had 'dinner' out last night (we were at my son's end of year school event) and all the food was Italian with lashings of garlic and tomato. I just couldn't do it. I wasn't sure how it looked with my pile of lettuce and cucumber. I didn't draw attention to myself and continued to eat my meal as everyone else did (tasteless as it was!).

Lavender on the pillow at night helps me relax :-) and I used rescue remedy in my more heart racing moments!

Hope you feel better - hugs

Lia

And stay busy. It will help keep your mind off of things. If you start to feel anxious, force yourself to get up and do anything that will keep your hands and minds off of everything else. Play cards, online games, start cleaning, color in a coloring book, read a book, paint a picture, pay bills. Do anything and everything to just pull yourself out of that situation. And if this doesn't work, try scheduling your day, so you don't have time to sit and just think. That is when things are often at their worst. Writing in a diary helps also at night to clear your mind, or going over a list of all the good things you did that day. Just the good. It will help.

thanks so much for you sage advice. I will work on these things. My BF from school suggested it could also be a reaction to jumping out of my comfort zone. Makes sense.
She's given me some options to foods I can eat at a certain restaurant back home so I'll venture there. My dad knows the owner well and he's keen to work out something I can eat at his Chinese restaurant. I'm touched by the kindness of people.
Through all of this I've seen all my friends for who they really are. One only has come up a bit shabby so that's not too bad.
Cas

Eventually, a true friend will come around. They may not understand always how difficult it is, but they at least are understanding that it is a difficult situation that has had a big impact on your life. And I agree- it is probably because you are stepping out of your comfort zone. One of the things I would do when I first started expanding my diet, was to call ahead to the restaurant to see if they had anything I could eat or to ask how food was prepared. I also would look up the menu online ahead of time too. This was of great assistance. Hope it helps and hang in there. You'll do just fine.

thanks. I'm sticking with cafes and restaurants where I know roughly the menu and how many choices I'll have. My friends have been wonderful. My BF from school has been marvelous as my illness has cancelled two trips to spend time with her (she's in another state). At least I should be right for her daughter's cruise wedding next May.

My friend recently taught me this technique, which sounds corny but can maybe help. Every night before bed (I do this in the evening since my symptoms are the worst then), I write three things that happened that day that I'm grateful for. Every night I add three more things from that day, making sure to reread the previous entries. Once the week is over, I retire the list and start over.

On particularly bad days, I take out the old copies and make sure to remember what still makes me happy desipte having to deal with this every day.

I hope you're feeling better.

thats a great idea. I do have a lot to be grateful for. My biggest problem at the moment is being eaten alive by sandflies. Off to the doctor for some relief.