Anxiety and CPPS

[cr]

I thought I'd make an update on my progress as well as hypothesise on the underlying causes of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in my case.

About two-three weeks ago, after having blood tests to confirm my testicular health (source of my fear, anxiety etc) and starting on 5mg of valium in the evenings on an irregular basis, I started to make rather speedy progress in terms of a recovery.

My sexual dysfunction started to abate (easier to get aroused and erections, ejaculating "easier", spontaneous erections, more consistent altough still watery ejaculate etc), I started having less spasms (retractile testicles) and I started to urinate less frequently. I no longer have experienced any pain or even moderate discomfort. However, at the same time I think I started having symptoms of fatigue - symptoms which I had not had before. I've since managed to keep these away by sleeping enough and starting to do deep-breathing relaxation with similar tapes to those mentioned in earlier posts (Dr Jeffrey Thompson - Alpha Relaxation System). I've also started to do sitz baths and AHIP exercises daily.

I've made steady progress bar two rather big setbacks. Basically, on two occasions I've had two unsuccesful attemps at an intercourse due not being able to maintain erection and get fully erect. Now, while I do acknowledge that alcohol, sex, a new partner and anxiety over sexual dysfunction do not make the inability to perform surprising, I've had a hard time telling my mind that. So following these incidents I've had pretty bad anxiety the following day with subsequent worsening of symptoms.. I get a similar, although a milder, response the day after drinking - although I've always been quite anxious and moody for no obvious reason after a night out drinking.

I've seen a shrink about my chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (and subsequent depression/anxiety - not these latest incidents), and started on 20mg of Prozac. Since this was only a few days ago, it's too early to say how I'll respond.

Also, like many of you here, I have a history that probably made me prone to chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in the first place:

1) As a result of a minor physical deformity, I am very self-aware and have very low self esteem. Since early teens I have avoided any situations requiring taking my shirt off (swimming, changing rooms etc);
2) I take any criticism (or anything negative for that matter) towards me very personally;
3) I stress about things very easily;
4) Turns out that I've probably had IBS for about 6 years now; and
5) I've perhaps had a slightly shy bladder always which has gotten a lot worse recently.

While these did not trigger my CPPS, these have made me prone to have CPPS. I think what triggered my chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (and is the main cause behind my symptoms) is what Dr Walt Stoll calls bracing. I think most, if not all, of my symptoms are ultimately caused by my mind.

A question:

Any tips as to how to do the deep-breathing / relaxation tape thing correctly? I tend to start thinking about stuff when doing it. Also, how does it "feel" when you are doing it right?

[alprost]

A question:

Any tips as to how to do the deep-breathing / relaxation tape thing correctly? I tend to start thinking about stuff when doing it. Also, how does it "feel" when you are doing it right?

This is quite normal. The key is to quietly let go of the thought, not worry about it, and return to your focus. This is the key to all different relaxation/meditation techniques.

For a good overview, check out this website.

[scotsman]

Worth having a read through this thread as well.

Richard.

[cr]

Ah, hadn't noticed that thread yet. Thanks for the links.

I'll try to keep doing it for at least once for 20-30 mins a day, see if I get any benefits.

To those who've been doing relaxation: how many daily/weekly sessions (and for how long per session) have you been doing it and have you seen any obvious benefits - and if so, how long did it take for the benefits to become apparent?

[daz]

hi cr..you seem to be going through simular stuff to me. not the problems with your health down below but with you stress etc. I went to see my doctor over something small just so I could mention o.c.d. id suffered with this for yers and one day while on a sickie from work turned on the tv and there was a programme on about it. couldnt believe my luck. I never knew o.c.d. was a condition. I can honestly say I cried my eyes out all day with relief. I've been dow many roads caused by stress.ocd..self harm..few half attempts and ending it all. he then sent me to see a bloke who helped loads. not so much what he was saying at the time, it was just that I was finally tallking to someone aboout something that was driving around the bend since I was 7. I've not seen him for a few years but now his words are helping me more. everything he said really I already knew. he admitted this to me. the problem I had, and to be honest still have is that while trying to open doors to get myself better I've opened a few that have sent me the wrong way, if you get what I mean. he even admitted to me, and so have others that I should maybe try to take a few exams and to work in mental health, as I've been there and done that and understand where people are coming from. one thing that sticks in my mind that he said is that if there is something that you are worrying about, and you can't do anything about dont let it stress you. if while driving a car someone pulls oout in front of you, you can either chase him down the stress aclling him a +@#$ and end up fighting him or in your mind think what a knob and let it go, thinking how your 5 year old kid drives better. go through life with an attitude like the latter and youll feel a lot better m8. I'm told now that I'm too laid back. thnig is I've seen the other side of the coin and I'm still suffering health problems through it. if you havent asked your doctor to see someone about your stress etc cr I deffo would.

[cr]

Yep, I see where you're coming from. I think the key is to become more laid back and not to stress about things more than is healthy or normal.

It's not going to be easy, but I think every time I start stressing about something (or get pissed off, whatever), I ought to stop, calm down, think about the situation for a bit and then continue with a slower pace.

[webslave]

i never knew o.c.d. was a condition. I can honestly say I cried my eyes out all day with relief.

There is a quite definite correlation between CPPS/pelvic myoneuropathy and anxiety spectrum disorders. David Wise's book scratches the surface by suggesting that we need to use Paradoxical Relaxation (a form of forced relaxation) to unwind pelvic spasm. OCD keeps popping up in too high a percentage of patients to be a coincidence. In other words, there is an organic, brain chemical aspect to this disorder. It's not just muscles and nerves.

This needs to be studied more.

[Ddream]

Webslave,

Do you believe the anxiety disorders came first or after the development of CPPS/pelvic myoneuropathy?

Yes, I agree that this area needs to be studied more.

[webslave]

Before. It's a genetic predisposition.

[Ddream]

Before. It's a genetic predisposition.

OH MY GOD!! That is intereting to think about.

I would love to know more about the psychological profile, personality and psychodynamics involved in people with CPPS/pelvic myoneuropathy.

[alprost]

Before. It's a genetic predisposition.

OH MY GOD!! That is intereting to think about.

I would love to know more about the psychological profile, personality and psychodynamics involved in people with CPPS/pelvic myoneuropathy.

It is worth noting that not everyone with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome has some kind of anxiety disorder, or is predisposed to high levels of anxiety. However, as has been pointed out above, there is a higher proportion of such individuals in samples of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients compared to the general population.

To me, the implication of this to recovery is that for some patinets, tackling stress and anxiety is absolutely fundamental to their recovery, whereas for others, relaxation/meditation serves to supplement/enhance the recovery process.

I still think that relaxation/medotation is an essential part of treatment for everyone, as our modern 'civilised' lifestyle is so out of sync with our evolutionary heritage we need time to chill out and allow our pelvic floor to heal!

[webslave]

It is worth noting that not everyone with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome has some kind of anxiety disorder, or is predisposed to high levels of anxiety.

I'm not convinced of that yet. A seemingly cool character could be walking around with his pelvis in a knot. He doesn't seem to suffer from tension and anxiety, unless you investigate the pelvis.

[Ddream]

Yes, I agree with you, Alprost. Good points.

[daz]

really interesting to read what people are saying and thinking. half the things that people on here are chatting about I arent too sure what they mean.....too many big words and abbreviations to be honest. one thing that hits me in the face though is everyone is coming from the same place. very interesting what someone said that people walking around cool as a cat but with pelvis in a knot. well people look at me and say the same. people say if I was any more laid back id be asleep. I'm a lot more laid back now that I used to and when younger in was a right mess. point is no one knew what went on inbetween my ears. I've good friends that lived with us for months on end and now I tell they what I was going through as a child and the effects of ocd they can't believe it. always said what shows on the outside isn't whats going on in between. I'm very good at picking up on when people are doing this as well. woman at the gym who is life of the party I once said to her that she suffers from depression, she couldnt believe I knew. ocd is evil and I deffo think its chemicals in the body that get you going. adrenalin etc. I was told there is 2 types. one that makes you fight and one that makes you back off. think mines a little broken! I dont value myself to much so then ocd moved on to worries about my daughter/wife and when I was young my mum. at 7 years old I used to go bed about 8 and and 12 oclock I would still be doing things that my mind was telling me to do or my mum would die in the night. can you imaging the stress its puts on you. every time you do these things it would get bigger and harder. when you didn't do these things right you would have to start again. now I still suffer from ocd but now have under control. all this happeneing and no one knew. this is why when I was about 25ish and watched the thing on tv I cried my eyes out. beleive me there is deffo a conection with ocd/depression and the problems we all have now.

[cr]

This is getting very interesting.

My view is that anxiety and stress can (or does, who knows?) lead to clenching of the pelvic muscles. While this is totally normal in the short run, over time it would induce minor pelvic spasms and concurrently lower ones threshold for a pelvic spasm. While many go through life totally asymptomatic, some develop CPPS. However, the major problem with this is that while ones "CPPS" is asymptomatic, no attention is paid to the problem, which in turn keeps enables one to keep clenching their muscles and hence making them even more prone to symptomatic CPPS.

The reason why IBS so often reported with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome sufferers is that it too can cause unnecessary clenching of the pelvic muscles which further lowers ones threshold for pelvic spasms and eventually symptomatic CPPS.

However, I think that in a majority of cases symptomatic chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome is ultimately triggered by something fairly specific. Something that makes you go over the edge and enter the vicious cycle of anxiety, stress and pain (anxiety and stress specific to the problem itself, not in general). Could be bacterial prostatitis, could be some other kind of infection down below, a sudden onset of stress, bracing, exposure to cold, the list could go on forever.