Therapy Services Swansea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects one person in five and is the world’s most common functional gastrointestinal disorder.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal
bloating, diarrhoea or constipation.
It is advised that you seek advice from your GP if you feel you may be suffering from IBS so that a full examination of your symptoms can be carried out and a diagnosis made. This will help you to understand your individual symptoms and plan the best way to treat the problem.
It has now been shown that in some cases emotional triggers, which affect the function of the central nervous system (or brain) by means of the connections of the 'brain gut relay', can affect the intestines. This in turn can bring about a nervous reaction in the gut. These emotional triggers can be stress or anxiety triggered by many different facors
Stress has been shown to have a greater adverse effect on those suffering with IBS than in non-sufferers. Certainly, many clients I work with, with IBS perceive stress to be an important factor and trigger for flare ups of their symptoms, along side diet and lifestyle factors
Hypnotherapy and IBS - The Research
Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology in the School of Medicine and Director of the South Manchester Functional Bowel Service has provided good evidence for the use of hypnotherapy in helping sufferers of IBS to better manage their condition
During hypnotherapy, which was offered as part of his research, sufferers learnt how to influence and gain control of their gut function, so they were better able to change the way the brain modulates their gut activity. The results were very positive
Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a special form of hypnotherapy developed for IBS and digestive disorder sufferers. It uses the therapeutic qualities of hypnotherapy, such as deep relaxation, and adds gut-specific treatment and suggestions
We know that IBS can be exacerbated by anxiety or stress, and that the subsequent worry about the IBS can perpetuate the effects. Hypnotherapy can get to the root of the problem, giving you the tools to manage any stress that may be making the IBS worse
If you would like further information or would like to book a consultation then please get in touch
As a holistic practitioner with a keen preventative approach, we will also consider other lifestyle factors surrounding your condition and which might require working on in order to remain healthy and well.
I am also happy to refer you on to other practitioners if we feel this would be a beneficial part of your treatments.