On this page I’ll explain how and why psychotherapy and hypnotherapy are safe and effective treatments for IBS symptoms*.* I’ll explain some of the causes of IBS — how it relates to diet, lifestyle, stress, and even relationships. And then I’ll explain some of the techniques that I use to help my clients achieve lasting relieffrom the pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation that disrupt their lives. This page is long and contains a lot of information, so I won’t blame you if you want to just go ahead and call or email me to set up an appointment right away. If you’d like to learn more first, keep reading.
There are literally about a trillion neural connections in there. And each one of them responds to all the same sorts of things that the ones in your brain do. You probably already know that neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA affect your brain in ways that control your thoughts and feelings… but did you know they do exactly the same thing inside your intestines?
Emotional experiences have a direct effect on our guts, and this is something we recognize intuitively:
Just thinking about food causes your digestive system to start producing and releasing the acids and enzymes needed to digest that imaginary food. This starts in your mouth. Just imagine sliding your tongue across a big, juicy, sour slice of lemon… feeling the sting of the acid as that strong sour flavor fills your mouth — and it’s likely you can feel the saliva starting to well up in your mouth to neutralize the acid of your imaginary lemon. This is happening all the way down your digestive tract, all the time.
And the gut sends strong signals to the brain as well. All the way back to the Ancient Greeks, the stomach has been thought to be the seat of emotion, and new studies are showing that gut health plays a profound role in psychological well-being. A number of studies have shown that the natural balance of bacteria in your intestines plays a large role in this, with probiotic supplements used to alter that balance causing changes in both brain neurotransmitter activity, and in behaviors related to anxiety and depression.
This two-way communication means that gastrointestinal disruptions like those seen in IBS bring about a lot of emotional problems. It also means that we can use psychological treatments to improve not only the emotional correlates, but also the actual disorder of the gut.
The standard of medical care for IBS is to attempt to simply address the symptoms without discovering or correcting the root causes. I find this completely unacceptable.
Skills like relaxation, stress management, assertiveness, dietary enhancement, and meditation can have a major impact on IBS symptoms by balancing your physical, emotional, and social well-being.
I use my scientific training to help patients conduct a personal experiment, discovering what aspects of your behavior have a real effect on the way you feel. And, through ongoing counseling, I help you maintain your focus and motivation to take control.
The way that you think about your symptoms affects the way that you perceive them. Most people think that the amount of pain or discomfort that a person feels is proportional to the amount of tissue damage or inflammation. But that’s not actually the case — every person has their own level of tolerance for pain and discomfort. And by restructuring your mental approach to discomfort, you can actually increase your level of tolerance. That means you’ll perceive less discomfort, and won’t be as bothered by the discomfort you do feel.