If you are one of the 20% of people in the UK struggling with IBS symptoms, then you will be relieved to know that hypnotherapy has been proven to be the most effective treatment for both short and long term relief.
IBS is a functional disorder of the gut, this means there is no disease or infection causing the symptoms, it is a problem with how your bowel is responding to everyday life triggers. The IBS may have been caused by an episode of illness or trauma (mental or physical) but with these issues no longer present the gut has not returned to normal function.
The symptoms of IBS are defined as either constipation, diarrhoea or alternating between the two, bloating and pain that is relieved by opening your bowels, though many people have other symptoms along side this like nausea and gas.
Before extensive research and trials had proven how effective a course of hypnotherapy can be ( 60 – 90% effective even after 5 years ) anti spasmodic medications, low FODMAP diet and avoidance of triggers had been the go to treatments, even though they had limited effect and stopped working as soon as the protocol was stopped.
So why does hypnotherapy work?
- Hypnotherapy works by getting to the root of the problem, the way the gut muscles are moving and the sensitivities around that.
- Hypnosis induces relaxation – A lot of IBS symptoms are caused by stress, tension and anxiety, relaxation helps alleviate these conditions and relax the gut.
- Relaxation is a Parasympathetic Nervous System state, also known as Rest and Digest… the clue is in the name as to why that is important!
- IBS is a learned response, hypnosis retrains both the emotional and physical maladaptive responses that are triggering the gut into dysfunction.
- Using positive imagery, hypnosis retrains the relationship you have with your gut and your body and what it interprets as safe, thereby reducing sensitivity.
- Cognitive Behavioural Hypnosis in particular can significantly reduce or eliminate the catastrophic thoughts and fears that often accompany IBS.
If you would like to know more about how the Healthful Mind Clinic can help you address your IBS, then please complete the contact form to book a call with Alexa Warner.
Alexa is a hypnotherapist, coach, mindfulness teacher and IEMT practitioner, specialising in helping people manage and resolve anxiety, stress, pain and health issues. She has used hypnosis to successful manage her own IBS symptoms.