"Replace fear-based thinking with love-based thinking. Every time you're making a choice, ask yourself if it's going to cultivate the experience of unity and love or the experience of separation and stress." – Deepak Chopra

We all experience fear. When it comes to living with a chronic condition like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fear can manifest in many ways.

Sometimes our initial diagnosis gives us fears about our quality of life. Dealing with the realities of our "new normal," with IBS can put us in a chronically fearful state of mind. Will I have a flare today? Will I be able to attend to my daily tasks pain-free? Fear about outcomes that are beyond our control can facilitate fear taking root.

"I finally came to realize that my fears about having IBS and what that could potentially mean were ADDING to my pain. Once I consciously decided to relieve myself of that burden I could better focus on managing my IBS." – Member of myIBSteam

Here are recent conversations from myIBSteam members:

• "I need to get the worrying out of my head and go out and live! This is not a disease but a 'condition' and has no cure. Most of the time once I go out and stop worrying I am fine and have a good time!"
• "I am actually having a pain free day so far which I couldn't be more thankful for. It is nice to smile on account of feeling a bit more normal."
• "To me, I've noticed that Ibs is totally linked with mental health. Make sure that you meet with someone who will listen to you. Take care of your mental health and find those coping skills that keep you positive."

Dealing with fear will look different for everyone. Sometimes it means arguing with our intrusive thoughts. Sometimes it looks like meditating to clear the mind.

How do you stop fear from taking over? Join the conversation below.