Deborah Day
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) might be one of the least glamorous topics, but it's surprisingly common, affecting about 1 in 5 people at some point in their lives. Symptoms can include bloating, stomach cramps, and shifts between constipation and diarrhea, which can leave people feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious.
Additional symptoms may also include:
For many, IBS can impact not just physical comfort but social and work life too. When flare-ups strike, even something as simple as leaving the house can feel daunting if you’re anxious about finding a restroom.
Ready to feel lighter and more comfortable? Mind Matters is here to help you get back to living your life with ease.
While certain foods may trigger IBS, anxiety and stress often play a major role. But why does anxiety mess with our digestive system so much? Blame it on the brain’s natural “fight or flight” response. When our brains detect stress, they flood our body with stress hormones, speeding up our heart rate, and yes—churning our stomach. It's that anxious stomach feeling we’re all familiar with.
This response is actually designed to help us react quickly and survive, routing blood to the limbs to prepare us to fight or flee. In today’s world, however, we’re not running from predators—we’re often just trying to get through a stressful day. Chronic anxiety can reduce blood flow to the stomach and lead to those IBS symptoms.
Studies show that hypnotherapy can be highly effective in easing IBS symptoms, and it’s even recommended in NHS guidelines. By reducing stress, hypnotherapy can help the digestive system settle into a “rest and digest” mode, which is where it truly thrives.
At Mind Matters, we focus on relaxation and positivity in hypnotherapy sessions, helping to lower stress levels and restore balance to the digestive system. Sessions are designed to be a relaxing experience that brings attention to what’s good in life, naturally helping reduce IBS symptoms as stress levels drop.