Dear Roary:

The bloating sensation, other than acute pain, is the most uncomfortable sensation I know. When that happens I tend to focus on the sensation and get distressed further. I experience the bloating and distress over it. The focus in my case became a habit. I noticed though that when my attention does get diverted, the focus not being there, the distress is gone.

I am thinking two things: distract yourself best you can, engage in an activity that works well as a distraction and as you feel the original distress, the bloating itself, try to separate the bloating sensation from the additional distress placed on top  of it. Try (and it is very hard to do) to be okay with the bloating, best you can. In line with: “to accept the things I cannot change” line in the serenity prayer.

What do you think/ feel?

anita