Everywhere you look, someone is telling you what kind of foods are best to eat for stress and anxiety. The problem is that the writer has no idea of what physical issues the reader is also trying to deal with. If you suffer with IBS, many of the suggested ingestibles may not work for you. Where do you look then?

The world appears to be overflowing with experts, but they are limited by their knowledge of who is looking for help. That is what one finds extremely frustrating. Wherever we go, we meet others who claim to have found the perfect solution.

Yesterday, I met a man walking the halls of the building where I live. He shared that he does a great deal of walking, because it really helps his feelings of stress and depression. He also indicated that he wears a watch that keeps track of how many steps he takes each day.

A friend sent us an e-mail that listed what foods were best for what ails me. But unfortunately, my gut can't handle many of the items that were mentioned. Many days present a different feeling of discomfort, with manifestations that send me looking for some medicine that will make them go away.

The therapist I have recently been seeing says you know what's best for you, but she is making a determination that is only another guess. When I am feeling terrible anxiety, something as innocuous as half a banana can cause stomach pain.

And although the article our friend sent recommended them, I remain confused and anxious. Are my physical issues in my head? OK, so I turn on You-Tube and try to listen to mood lifting music, only to find that the music I've chosen only exacerbates the distress.

For some, seeing an acupuncturist appears to work, and then there is Buddhist chanting. Will what others use elicit a similar response from me? Then of course there is the doctor, who has a mental bag filled with different medications that he is hopeful will do the trick, but they often don't help and tend to make things worse.

I remember a time long ago when the doctor recommended two aspirin and a cup of tea for just about any physical issue. My mother was a testimonial to successful self medication. Her recommendation was, "if your stomach hurts, then eat something." But what? Use a heating pad if your gut hurts. One has to question if the old methods weren't the best ones in the long run.

I sit here with a mini-medicine chest next to my bed, wondering whether all the pills I pop in my mouth each day are at the bottom of my problems.

Yesterday I met a woman my age at Bingo. She said that doctors feel obligated to prescribe medications, but that she still smokes and eats what she wants. One has to question whether she has discovered the answer to this dilemma.