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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, can be successfully treated by hypnotherapy. IBS is stress-related, and the therapy aims to relieve the symptoms of the condition by helping to control stress.
The symptoms of IBS are usually intermittent bouts of abdominal pain or cramps, often with a feeling of abdominal swelling and episodes of diarrhoea. It is important to remember that these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, so these conditions need to be excluded before the diagnosis is made. Nearly always, there is an association of the symptoms of IBS with some form of stress.
The subconscious part of the nervous system, known as the autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls those parts of the body that work without our conscious control (e.g. heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature control). The digestive system is also regulated by the ANS, moving food through, allowing absorption of nutrients and finally excretion of waste products, all without us having to consciously think about it.
Unfortunately, the ANS can be triggered into unwanted action by stressful situations and it is that part of the ANS that controls the large bowel that is affected by irritable bowel syndrome. Nervous diarrhoea is familiar to many people and is an example of over activity of the bowel wall muscles. In IBS there can be over or under activity, leading to the symptoms mentioned above.
Hypnotherapy tries to control stress and thus switch off that unwanted and inappropriate ANS activity. It can also introduce the use of ‘anchors’ to control specific IBS symptoms (for more about anchors see Hypnotherapy Explained). In addition, self-hypnosis is usually taught, in order to reinforce the messages given during the hypnotherapy sessions and to help with the control of stress.
If you have any queries about hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome, or you would like to make an appointment, please email, or telephone Grahame on 01428 724333.
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