My bf is great. I wouldn't say I'm terribly emotional--at least I don't have many mood swings. I would say I'm mostly irritable and weepy following an IBS attack and, sometimes when I feel physically bad, I'll sort of hide from the world.
Periodically, I'll ask him how he feels about my attacks and when I get so sick or down that I can barely take care of myself. He says it's not a problem because it's easy to take care of and support someone you love. And I think he's right. ALthough, I understand that it can also be hard for a loved one to see you so sick and unhappy that they feel frustrated about the fact that they can't help you. He also lets me vent about IBS as much as I need to (in return, I listen to him talk about video games and computer programming-yawn ). I don't know what I'd do without him!
I think it's fantastic that you're looking into counseling. I would love to have a counselor who has suffered from IBS and who understands the phobias that can come with it.