Stomach Pain, Discomfort, bloating, bathroom issues – all symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This challenging and often embarrassing condition can intrude on a person’s life, sometimes taking over how they go about their daily routine. IBS can be complicated to treat, and many people are forced to live in constant fear of when IBS might strike. Recently, Hypnotherapy has been found to be an innovative treatment for this abdominal ailment. With one in five Australians at some time experiencing the unpleasant effects of IBS, many of them are plagued by this manageable condition on a daily basis. Here, we look at how Hypnotherapy can put IBS sufferers on the road to a healthy gut.

IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder, and we don’t really know the precise cause of the condition. While some people might be struck down at random, others experience bouts of IBS due to eating certain foods or experiencing ‘triggers’ such as stress. Symptoms may include mild to severe abdominal cramps, bloating and sudden diarrhoea, among others. Irregular bowel movements and constipation are other indications that point to an irritable bowel. The good news is that many of the things that lead to IBS are behaviour related, and certain treatments like Hypnotherapy are ideal for managing this uncomfortable problem.

It’s Not Just the Food

Most people do not fully recognise how IBS affects them, with some living with the condition throughout their lives and others developing the disorder as they get older. While science works to understand the exact causes of IBS, those suffering from the syndrome will tell you that certain foods are often the primary cause. In contrast, others point to stress factors as the trigger that upsets the gastrointestinal system.

As our understanding of the mind improves, many physical disorders and conditions have been directly linked to the brain, dispelling age-old myths and inaccurate assumptions. IBS has only recently been studied closely enough for doctors to understand that the condition is triggered by more than simply eating foods that upset the gut – the mind plays a significant role as well.

So Many Treatments

Treating IBS with conventional methods like medications and diet control have yielded limited results. While some patients report early initial improvement, they often still find themselves struggling to manage their irritated bowel over the longer term. While tucking into a spicy bowl of curry is almost sure to trigger a flare-up, often sufferers who carefully watch what they eat find themselves still facing the Painful symptoms regularly.

A Different Option

Hypnotherapy is not a cure for IBS. But it is a proven gut-directed therapy that helps to alleviate the symptoms of the syndrome. Gut-directed Hypnotherapy works on the body’s nervous system. It helps to reduce the sensitivity of the nerves in the gut, teaching the brain to differentiate between stomach Pain and normal gut sensations. Surveys and studies have shown that more than half of IBS suffers who receive Hypnotherapy treatment see a marked improvement in the severity of the symptoms, clinical studies have shown over 70% see some improvement.

Adopting a holistic approach like Hypnotherapy to treating the syndrome is showing greater and greater success, and this, coupled with other conventional treatments, can give welcome relief to people who are hoping to lead a normal life.

A Positive Mind Equals a Positive Gut

Hypnotherapy is proven in helping people overcome distressing psychological issues in a comfortable, controlled environment. During treatment, a therapist will assist their client in entering a psychological state that helps the mind open up to positive suggestion and relaxation techniques. Through these methods, therapists work with the client in gaining control of the unconscious psychological responses and stimuli that inflame IBS symptoms.

Hypnotherapy is capable of addressing both the physical and emotional triggers that make IBS such a difficult and often embarrassing condition to live with. From progressive muscle relaxation to guided imagery, Hypnotherapy empowers the brain to take control of the internal mechanisms, and responses that cause abdominal Discomfort.

We Can Help You in the Fight Against IBS

Sufferers no longer have to live with the daily Discomfort, anxiety and embarrassment caused by IBS. At Hypnocare, Linda and Jan will work through overcoming the psychological issues that aggravate the symptoms of IBS. Whether it’s learning to say no to unhealthy, trigger foods or re-establishing a working connection between brain and stomach, the power of deep relaxation, positive affirmations and helpful suggestion is a proven technique in combatting an uncooperative gut.

The additional benefits of Hypnotherapy in fostering a healthy, reduced-stress mind affects so much more than IBS. Hypnotherapy helps to fight off anxiety, bad habits and stress, leading to a healthier mind and, in turn, a healthier body. Say goodbye to IBS Pain and Discomfort and hello to a calmer, happier life.