Anxiety is very prevalent in and takes many forms with IC. A common scenario with IC is a person having fear around changing what he or she is doing for her condition at the onset of treatment. Many times he or she has a bag full of supplements, and even though the sum of those supplements are not working, there is tremendous fear and making changes. Another fear is taking something that someone has associated with pain. OFten it isnt what you take it is how and with what. Combining and recombining is very important in the treatment of IC. This can make the difference between feeling well and feeling awful. Also, making appropriate dietary changes and water changes along side these protocols is paramount, otherwise, it wont work. The way in which a supplement is processed is another important factor to understand. So, if someone has a problem with one probiotic, it is important not to throw the baby out with the bath water. There is more to it than what seems obvious.

Another fear is that you will be the only person that will not benefit from treatment. I don't think I have ever seen one person who did not have this fear. I hear it time and time again. 

Through treatment,  it is difficult to understand how changes in the body can take time and why things move so slowly. And, that provokes more fear and a lot of impatience. Many times, people will drop out of treatment during these times, or turn to other things that may complicate matters. I think, personally , it is better to focus the treatment instead of including multiple efforts. That often only leads to more problems. I think the body does better when it has been given less signals.

Other fears include things like, being afraid of never being able to have sex again, or of not being able to be alone, or, not being able to find a bathroom in time so simple daily travels are avoided. More complicated travels such as airplane rides or cruises are avoided. Social anxiety often plays into the common anxiety factors of IC as well.

In many cases anxiety hits every evening. This is common amongst those having IC, but also other chronic conditions as well.

As a person's IC symptoms start to improve, these anxiety factors reduce. However, one must take that first step in order to get to a place where things seem more manageable and calm.
 
As one goes through the many steps it takes to regain a healthy balance in one's life, one will more often than not see how his or her anxiety will slowly reduce over time and life becomes about life not about anxiety!

I hope this helps shed some perspective on the subject.

Dr. B