I came a cross this today, and thought I would share it.  




The Psychological Effects Of IC
Pay Attention!! 5 minutes out of your day won't hurt you, but could help someone else!!
Although IC is a physiological disease, the effects are emotional. The pain of IC automatically induces an emotional response. In the early 90's, Naomi McCormick, Ph.D., wrote in a joint article with pain specialist Daniel Brookoff, M.D., "It is nearly impossible for an IC patient to be emotionally neutral about pain." The pain of IC is carried to the center of the brain that carries emotion, and because IC affects an internal organ (the bladder) it is considered visceral pain. Visceral pain sends messages to the part of the brain called the limbic system, which regulates arousal and emotion. The messages from the bladder pain can make a patient feel upset, emotional and depressed as a result.

Unfortunately, the type of behavior that IC pain sets off is similar to the type of behavior seen in patients with post-traumatic stress syndrome, especially those who have been sexually abused. IC patients may be seen as emotionally laden victims of a traumatic experience demonstrating hyper-vigilant behavior (the need to be on guard against harm), instead of a person in need of medication to calm the unsettling symptoms of interstitial cystitis. However, it's not uncommon for IC patients to experience their first symptoms of IC during or after a stressful event. Perhaps this has to do with a "genetic blueprint," mentioned below.

Jay A. Goldstein, M.D., explained in an early Fibromyalgia Network newsletter how patients (fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome) are born with a genetic blueprint. He explained that a genetically predisposed individual may be "overtaxed" and "depleted" of important neuro-hormonal transmitting substances, and may develop her/his illness during stressful times. Goldstein believes that "this might explain why most patients develop their illness during situations of increased environmental stressors of various types." These individuals may not have what it takes chemically to fight infections, over-exertion and trauma.

We Are "Copers"

Although stress may not always be the trigger for IC, the stress and emotional impact caused by IC symptoms is ongoing. Most of us must deal with awareness in our bladders every day. We cannot leave our bladders with baby sitters while we go out to run errands, go to our jobs, go out to dinner or on vacation. Having IC is like having the responsibility of a baby for the rest of our lives, 24 hours a day. We have to take care of and pay attention to the baby, or the baby can make our lives miserable and wear us down. The baby likes schedules, lots of sleep, regular meals and a special diet. The baby needs to feel safe and secure at all times.

IC is a daily responsibility. People without IC usually have the benefit of knowing that their stressful responsibilities have an end in sight. For instance, jobs can be changed, children will grow-up, parents, in need of care, will sadly pass away at some point. IC, as far as we know at this time, isn't going to grow up and leave, and we can't really leave it (yet!). Although IC expresses symptoms and anxiety differently in each patient, it is not a situational stress that will resolve in time. And, even though most of us build a certain amount of tolerance to the everyday bladder sensitivity (not the painful flare-ups), we still have to place our bladder needs first.

The world with IC can become very small. And, problems can seem too big to overcome. Sometimes the limitations can make us feel stuck, sometimes with no hope for the future. This is why it is absolutely necessary to take a good look at ourselves and recognize our successes, and the people in our lives who truly care about and admire us. Remember, we are "copers" and we have what is called psychological resilience. If others could just experience five minutes of a painful IC flare-up we would be considered heroes.

Not sure who posted this originally but I stole it cuz it's perfect for the current situation.