This is interesting to me -- I dont get IBS but Ive had in the past a lot of nervousness and anxiety prior to sessions. I manage it by trying if at all possible to plan out several hours or even half a day before to take time for self-care, preparation and then I usually try to time out the travel and arrival to be exactly on time. Its sort of a self-regulation strategy -- if my mind is just on the technical details (which bus to catch or when to call an Uber; which stop and where to walk) then its not on the nervousness. If I have more time to call, Ill play chess or word games on my phone. The point is to arrive with my mind NOT on the session but also not ignoring or suppressing it.

I find that if all that hits just right, there's a sort of magical feeling at the moment of arrival, passing from one world to the next.

I guess thats pretty far from the original topic but it struck me as I read how important that whole prep ritual is for me.