Hi guys, so I think I've suffered with (high functioning) anxiety for the majority of my life (I'm 23, M) and never sought a diagnosis. It hasn't been hugely problematic in the past and I've been able to lead a relatively normal life, with the usual stresses and worries that most people experience. However, shortly after last year's lockdown my anxiety has been a lot worse and has exacerbated my IBS symptoms (again, not formally diagnosed), with flare ups of my anxiety almost always causing urgency to poop/ giving me diarrhoea.  To add to this, adapting to the lockdown and rarely going out to do things/see people has worsened my anxiety now that restrictions are loosening, and any kind of significant outing will trigger my IBS and further exacerbate my anxiety. I work from home too, and even Zoom calls will trigger my IBS, mainly as a result of the anxiety of the IBS itself... so as you can see it's a viscous cycle. I've been able to take over the counter medication such as Imodium to counteract the physical effects of my anxiety, but I'd much rather target the root cause.

I've tried methods to manage my anxiety, like breathing exercises, mindfulness and journaling, but I really don't find them helpful. I've also done some research into other medications and have read that antidepressants can often be helpful, especially at lower doses, to manage GI issues caused by anxiety. I read that tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline are particularly useful for people who suffer with IBS-D, as they are less targeted at depression, which I don't have.

I'd be grateful for some advice from people who have/had a similar issue to me, and to hear about your experiences of taking these types of medication to alleviate GI symptoms associated with anxiety. Thanks!