Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition where an individual may either have very loose bowels, or constipation, and the occurrence is often linked to stressful situations.
The issue often arises if a person is in ‘fight, flight or freeze’ as a response to stress or anxiety. If your stomach is churning or you are feeling sick, or wanting to suddenly go to the loo is a standard response to a stressful situation.
This response in our gut together with a racing heart or sweaty hands is the body is getting ready to run away! In stressful situation which can be real, or often imagined ( thinking about what could go wrong) the brain and gut interact and we get the unwanted response. For someone with IBS, the gut’s response to the communication from the brain is turned up way too high.
The IBS response can be made worse as you worry about what could happen, for example what if you find you are not near a loo. This increases the anxiety further and the worry and the symptoms can then become worse. It can become a vicious cycle, with individuals often limiting their social events or travelling as well as day to day plans.
Alternatively, if we are in danger, the body isn’t going to be focused on digesting food. Everything except for the response needed to get away can be ‘shut down’ to get you out of danger. This is why when stressed, some people may have a problem with constipation as their IBS symptom.
Hypnotherapy helps the client by understanding this cycle and how the brain works when under stress. By changing our thoughts gently under hypnosis the brain can react more appropriately. By ‘dialling down’ the worry and negative thoughts this IBS stress response is reduced. Over several weeks, by reducing stress and getting the response under control can help you to move forward confidently.
There are several Testimonials on this website from clients who have been successful in overcoming their IBS. It is extremely rewarding see clients take back control and start to enjoy social events and look forward to holidays and travelling again.