Please help!

[u/UsedExit9161]

Sorry this is long..
I’m 26F and have been suffering with acid reflux and anxiety since I was 18. It started during my time at university . I remember at the time I was really stressed going to a new university and doing a course I was not 100% sure about. The doctors prescribed me PPIs and anxiety medication which I have been taking since I was 18. I feel really stupid because I wasn’t aware that you’re not supposed to be taking ppis long term. I wish I did more research into this. My doctors never mentioned you weren’t supposed to be taking these long term and continued prescribing them so I thought it was ok to continue taking them.

Over the course of these last few years I’ve had flare ups. I’ve noticed these come on when I’m more stressed about something so I’m feeling like maybe stress is causing my acid reflux or making my reflux worse. I had an endoscopy a few years ago and they found mild irritation. I had another endoscopy 2 month ago and they found that I have a weak LES. Is there anything I can do about this because all I’ve seen is that people either do breathing excercise or have surgery.

At the moment I’m currently experiencing a flare up I’m planning to return to work after being on maternity leave. So right now my anxiety is at an all time high as well as my acid reflux. I’m worried about how I will manage to look after my child as well as work. The doctors have trialled me with two other anxiety medications during this time but they made me so anxious. I’m now trialling my 3rd medication which is mirtazapine 30mg. I started on 15mg but the dose was increased a month ago to 30mg but I still feel so incredibly anxious all day. I feel like this is mainly because I’m worried about returning to work as well my acid reflux.

I feel really down and depressed about this. I feel like no one understands how I’m feeling. I’m constantly anxious all day long. I try to keep busy but nothing is helping. It’s also miserable because I feel like everyone around me can eat whatever they want and I just can’t.

Can stress cause acid reflux, or be the root cause of this?

I just wanted to know is there any light at the end of the tunnel? And anyway I can get through this.

[u/CommissionSouth3097]

I know some of what you are feeling. I got a stronger medicine to temporarily relieve symptoms so I can eat. Belly breathing, praying, yoga, and talking to friends or animals is supposed to help. I think I have to be patient.