Hypnotherapy for IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a bowel disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, characterised by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by changes in bowel function, diarrhoea, constipation or a combination of both, typically over months or years. Disturbances in bowel habits can vary from person to person - some getting constipation , others diarrhoea and some people alternate between the two. This can be very frequent for some or very irregular for others.

Symptoms of IBS can include abdminable pain, abdominal bloating, disturbance of bowel habits, lower backache, lethargy, nausea (particularly in the mornings), thigh pain and bladder symptoms such as a frequency to go. Some women also experience pain on intercourse due to IBS. A large proportion of IBS sufferers also complain of other functional disorders such as headaches, pain on urination and non-cardiac chest pain, suggesting internal pain thresholds may be lower in people with IBS. Other symptoms can include weight gain, poor skin and hair quality, gas, cramping, heartburn and feeling full.

There doesn’t appear to be a definitive cause for IBS, however research suggests it could result from a combination of factors that probably vary from person to person. What is known however, is that stress and anxiety make the problem worse. Some people with IBS have other overlapping conditions such as Heartburn, Dyspepsia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Coeliac Disease, Fibromyalgia and Crohn’s Disease.

As yet there is no cure - most researcher’s agree that a percentage of IBS sufferers have a visceral hypersensitivity of the gut or more specifically, an increased perception of sensations in the gut. However, previous gastroenteritis, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, psychosocial factors (such as stress, depression, hostility and hopelessness), a genetic contribution and an imbalance of neurotransmitters have all been proposed as either possible causes or playing a part in the development of IBS. It is generally agreed that a person’s emotional response to stress can exacerbate the condition.

There is a strong association between IBS and psychological distress - apporoximately half of people with IBS who seek medical care are depressed or anxious. Research suggests psychological disorders, such as depression and General Anxiety Disorder are present in the majority of IBS sufferers who seek medical care. The effect of stress on individuals prone to IBS is significant.

Using hypnotherapy as a treatment for IBS can have a significantly positive effect. As IBS is a medical condition, individuals experiencing any of the symptoms of IBS should always firstly seek medical advice from their doctor. Although there is no cure for IBS, the hypnotherapy treatment plan will look at diet, relaxation training and the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as part of treating the body and mind as one to ease the symptoms of IBS. Studies have shown emotions such as anger, fear, pain and anxiety can affect colonic motility more in IBS. The brain interprets thoughts, feelings, beliefs and memories into patterns of nerve cell firing and chemical release that affect the physiology of the body.

Another mediator of the brain and gut is serotonin. As well as being involved in Gastrointestinal motility and secretion, it is an important neurotransmitter that is related to cognition (thoughts), mood and depression. And another brain-gut connection is that scientific data has shown that the same parts of the brain are activated whether participants were experiencing certain events or recalling them from memory. In other words, visual imagery and visual perception draw on the same neural pathways. This means that stressful thoughts and feelings, as well as perceived stressful situations can lead to gastrointestinal tract disturbances.

An IBS treatment plan is for six sessions. This costs £300 and includes the consultation, which is part of the treatment. An audio download is included along with other resources which will be provided as part of the treatment. For more information or to chat about whether this is something you may be interested in get in touch with me using the contact form.