Answer to IBS is in the mind
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition that affects the digestive system. Some statistics show that it may affect up to 20% percent of the population. The cause is not known. It is often linked to oversensitive nerves of the guts, food intolerance, stress, or family history of IBS.
It is described as a syndrome (a complex of symptoms) rather than as a disease. In IBS the function of the bowel is disturbed, but the structure is normal. It may cause symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.
IBS is usually a life- long condition that can have a big impact on people’s everyday life. For some people, IBS may seem to be a trivial complaint, blown out of proportion, but for others, it comes to dominate their lives. People suffering from IBS often will avoid going to social events, travelling by public transport, or even going to work. As IBS can be triggered by stress and anxiety, getting stressed or anxious about the condition can make the symptoms worse.
Positive results after using hypnotherapy have been constantly obtained in medical studies and have been proved to be superior to psychotherapy (Smueli, 2017). Several IBS studies have found a correlation between hypnotherapy and long-term improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (NCCIH).
Your brain and belly talk to each other trough a network of nerves. This explains why emotional distress can cause digestive distress and vice versa.
Sheman. J., 2017
Hypnotherapy as a treatment for IBS involves the use of the so-called gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH). It focuses on relieving bowel symptoms but also on clients’ ability to cope with this condition. Clients receive from 8- to 12 sessions and the majority of them achieve improvement in symptoms and quality of life. We also work towards identifying and resolving some underlying factors as stress, anxiety, or depression. Our clients feel empowered by the process.