Recap: I was diagnosed with MC about 10 years ago, and after discovering multiple food intolerances and eliminating them, have been in remission on diet alone for many years. About 2 1/2 mo. ago a flare started when my dog died. Other severe family dramas added to my stress. It became apparent to me that it is possible for well-controlled MC to relapse due to stress alone.
Thanks to some great tips here on the Board, this is what I did. I began taking Imodium as needed. I continued with my usual mostly-paleo diet. I upped my aerobic exercise, both in intensity and length (to one hour a day). And the main change I made to reduce my stress level was to TURN OFF THE MEDIA. Seriously. I turned off all cable TV and talk radio and network news. I stopped listening to the angry conservatives on Fox and the equally-angry liberals on MSNBC screaming, name-calling, fingerpointing. Such nastiness - it demeans ALL of us when one group is visciously attacked, I realized.....not to mention those depressing, horrible, negative political ads we were forced to see endlessly on TV.
It has been such a breath of fresh air not to listen to any more of it. I listen to music instead or just sit for a bit in the QUIET. Or watch a good movie. And here's the good news. I am almost back to normal - Norman arrived a few days ago, and I'd say I'm about 98% improved. I'm not saying that all of that ridiculous media static and hogwash was the cause of my flare. It wasn't, but the constant droning and dire predictions made my stress worse, I'm sure. Wouldn't it be interesting to do a study of people who tune in regularly to one or another of these vitriolic media "entertainers"? I'll bet they would have a higher incidence of stress-related illness - high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep difficulty, GI upset, etc.
Anyway, all of this has made me think about and appreciate our family here on the Board. All of that media trash is meaningless here - it doesn't define any of us or how we relate to each other. We have no idea (neither do we care) about another's political persuasion, sexual orientation, religious (or not) beliefs, etc. So all of that namecalling and deviseness promoted by the media and our politicians really is just hot air - it doesn't affect us where it really counts - in our day to day interactions here. That is really something to be thankful for, and I am.
Love,
Polly, who would love to see a kinder, gentler nation in her lifetime
) . But maybe his Type-A personality thrives on that stuff? Who knows. I'd just as soon hibernate! But I often listen to NPR during my commutes - it's rather soothing compared to radio music. 
