HEALTH & LIFESTYLE How to handle the emotional stress of IBS
IBS CAN HAVE A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT – BUT THERE ARE THINGS SUFFERERS CAN DO TO LOOK AFTER THEIR MENTAL WELLBEING, WRITES ABI JACKSON
IRRITABLE bowel syndrome (IBS) can mean a host of tricky symptoms – such as diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal cramps, gas and bloating – but it’s not just the physical effects that can take a toll. The common digestive condition can have a psychological impact too, and there’s significant overlap with things like stress, anxiety and depression. One 2012 study, published in World Journal of Gastroenterology, suggested around 30% of people with IBS experience some level of depression.
“The emotional impact of any digestion issue is huge, and it’s no surprise,” says Jenna Farmer, who runs A Balanced Belly (abalancedbelly.co.uk), dedicated to all things gut health and living with digestive disorders. “It makes things we take for granted – like travel, socialising and working – that bit more difficult, as we worry about finding foods we can eat from a menu, managing symptoms when out and about and finding the nearest loo.”
Karen Chambers, a holistic nutritional therapist and founder of Fierce Wellbeing (fiercewellbeing.com), agrees this is a common experience: “Quite often, when clients with IBS first come to see me, it’s clear they develop anxiety over the condition. They have daily concerns of where toilets are situated, can they gain quick access, feeling on edge, worried about eating away from home.”
IBS can vary in severity, and often people find their symptoms ‘flare up’ at certain times and settle down at others. The exact causes aren’t entirely clear, although some find specific foods trigger symptoms, or an underlying gut infection may be involved. Most of the time though, IBS is diagnosed after ruling out other possible causes, so it’s important to see your doctor.
Diet and lifestyle changes can play a vital role in managing IBS, and medications may help soothe symptoms. But thinking about how IBS is affecting your mental wellbeing, and helpful ways of addressing this, is also important. Some people find talking therapies and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can be very beneficial, but there’s lots you can do yourself, too.
Holistic nutritional therapist Karen Chambers, above
Crohn’s, so knows what it’s like to live with digestive health issues. menstrual cycle for women, whether you felt stressed or relaxed, etc – can help identify patterns.
Jenna says there are apps that can help with this too, such as Bowelle (bowelle.com). Remember it’s important not to make any big changes to your diet without consulting an expert, to ensure you’re still getting a balanced diet that’s meeting your nutritional needs.