Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a chronic condition that affects many people across the world. In fact in Australia, one in five people experience IBS symptoms.
At best it’s painful and restricts diet and lifestyle. At worst it’s totally debilitating, leaving sufferers essentially crippled, disheartened and often unable to work.
Symptoms in varying degrees of severity can include:
The cause of IBS is still largely unknown but the latest research is showing definite links between the brain and the gut. There is still a way to go, but current studies are leading us to consider stress, anxiety and sometimes even depression as the major triggers of IBS symptoms.
IBS can have a big impact on life quality. New research however, reveals that hypnotherapy can be a very effective treatment for IBS. In a recent study conducted at Monash University, Australia, hypnotherapy was tested as a treatment for IBS on patients with varying degrees of symptoms. After six weeks of hypnotherapy sessions, once a week, 72 per cent of participants had improved with regard to their global gut symptoms.
When our minds and bodies are experiencing high levels of stress, our body responds to this by slowing or shutting down certain systems in the body to prioritise the ones that manage the causes of the stress. One of the functions that loses resources and energy is the digestive system. So this explains why your IBS symptoms can flare up when you feel anxious. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, we recommend that you seek a proper medical diagnosis to rule out any other possible causes before seeking Hypnotherapy.
The good news is that at Hill Hypnotherapy, when I see clients with IBS, we notice quite rapid improvement in the symptoms, which most often disappear completely.
The digestive tract and system is like a complex machine that works in harmony with the body rhythm and cycles. When the flow of digestion is interrupted or halted for any reason, our food does not get broken down properly or pass through the system efficiently. This starts to cause blockages and also can result in passing through too fast causing discomfort, bloating and cramping.
In simple terms, the state of hypnosis re-enables good Brain-Gut communication, which gently allows your systems to get back into natural rhythm.
This can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. When the digestive system is overloaded, and not operating and functioning in an efficient manner, the system can go into shut down mode and give the indication of instant elimination. Particularly when the system is stressed, it can go into “flight” mode and everything needs to leave the system rather quickly, sometimes with very little warning. A little bit like being sick, but from the lower end.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses the state of focused relaxation and positive suggestion to help you visualise all your systems working in harmony. In response to this our mind and body begin to produce less of the chemicals of stress and more of the chemicals which assist us in healing.
If you suffer from a poorly functioning digestive system, which includes the gut, the intestines and the bowel, then these organs will be having to work very hard to perform at an optimum state. When our gut bacteria and body chemistry are out of balance these organs can develop a hypersensitivity. This sensitivity can result in reactions to certain foods, but normally sort themselves out when the system returns to normal.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy helps your mind and body to come back into a harmonious, relaxed state, which eventually becomes second nature to you. This state helps you to restore chemical and bacterial balance in your gut so that your body isn’t so reactive to certain foods.
IBS sufferers usually feel stuck and often have to plan their lives meticulously around the nearest toilet or exit. Simple pastimes, like walking, long trips in the car, cinema or theatre visits, travelling on a plane and camping are just a few scenarios that can often be impossible.
Hypnotherapy helps you get back into the drivers seat of your life. We’ll show you simple steps to manage the stress in the system and take you forward to get freedom back into your life.
If you feel you are being controlled by your condition, at Hill Hypnotherapy, we can reassure you that you are able to regain the control again in a safe, natural way.
At Hill Hypnotherapy we treat you with respect and in a non-judgmental way. We take things at your own pace and work with you in a collaborative process.
There IS light at the end of the tunnel and you will ALWAYS be in control throughout the process.
In fact it is our aim to help you feel empowered, resilient and ready for your brighter future.