IBS Hypnotherapy in Lancaster
“Why am I so bloated?”
“Why do I keep needing the toilet?”
“Why does my stomach hurt so much?”
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be uncomfortable, stressful and sometimes deeply embarrassing. Symptoms can affect everyday routines, social situations, travelling and how confident you feel being away from home.
You may find yourself constantly thinking about where the nearest toilet is, worrying that symptoms will appear unexpectedly or trying to work out what might trigger the next flare-up.
When IBS starts to affect everyday life
IBS can involve symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, bloating and changes in bowel habits. The way it affects people varies considerably, and symptoms may also change over time.
For some people, worrying about symptoms becomes almost as difficult as the symptoms themselves. You may begin avoiding certain journeys, meals, social situations or places where you are unsure whether a toilet will be available.
That uncertainty can create additional stress, particularly if you have experienced an uncomfortable or embarrassing situation in the past.
The gut–mind connection
The brain and digestive system communicate closely with each other. Stress and anxiety can influence digestion, while uncomfortable digestive symptoms can themselves create more worry and tension.
This can sometimes create a difficult cycle: symptoms cause anxiety, the anxiety increases your awareness of what is happening in your body, and you become increasingly worried about when the next flare-up may occur.
Learning ways to manage the stress and anxiety surrounding IBS can therefore be one useful part of a broader approach to living with the condition.
How hypnotherapy may help with IBS
I offer Solution Focused Hypnotherapy in Lancaster to support people who are struggling with the stress, anxiety and disruption associated with IBS.
Our sessions focus on helping you feel calmer, reducing the amount of attention taken up by worry and developing a more manageable response to situations that currently feel stressful or difficult.
Hypnosis provides a period of guided relaxation and focused attention and may also incorporate imagery relating to the gut and digestion where appropriate.
The aim is not to promise that every IBS symptom will disappear. Instead, we focus on helping you manage the stress and anxiety surrounding the condition and feel more confident in everyday life.
IBS and medical care
IBS should be appropriately assessed by a healthcare professional, particularly if you have new, persistent or unexplained digestive symptoms.
Hypnotherapy can be used alongside appropriate medical care and should not replace advice or treatment from your GP or other healthcare professionals.
If anxiety and stress are contributing significantly to how you experience IBS, you may also find my page on anxiety and stress helpful.
Feeling more confident day to day
Living with IBS can sometimes make life feel as though it has to revolve around your symptoms. Our work can focus on helping you feel less dominated by that worry and more able to approach everyday situations with greater confidence.
We can look at what you would like to change and work towards making IBS feel like a smaller part of your life rather than something that determines everything you do.
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