Hypnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Hypnosis: A subconscious tool that can help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is still largely not understood gastrointestinal disorder that affects lifestyle significantly. So much so that you may not see someone who suffers from IBS out and about very often. Between the discomfort in the gut, constipation, and anxiety that comes with lifestyle changes, it becomes difficult to even enjoy day-to-day life.
IBS is a challenging case because it involves the gut-brain connection. As the result of the brain’s wrong signals to the gut, the hyper contraction in the colons begins. After all the gut is the second brain.
So what is irritable bowel syndrome? And how can a subconscious therapy method like hypnosis be helpful with IBS?
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Let’s start with the basics.
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects the digestive system. It’s actually pretty common, about 3 percent to 20 percent of Americans suffer from IBS. Due to problems between the gut-brain connection, the digestive tract gets very sensitive and the contraction of the bowel muscles changes.
Common symptoms include:
Abdominal pain
Cramps
Bloating
Diarrhea
Constipation
Due to all these digestive problems, daily life can become difficult for someone who deals with IBS. The chance of having diarrhea, nausea, or having to use the restroom unexpectedly may even prevent them from going out, socializing, or engaging in new activities comfortably.
As a result, common additional conditions that are observed in IBS patients are mental problems such as depression, anxiety, or excessive stress.
What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
No one really knows what causes IBS. According to the Cleveland Clinic, women are twice as likely to get it than men and it tends to develop between the ages of 18 to 45. Additionally, emotional stress and a history of abuse increase the likelihood of IBS as well.
Mostly, people who are under significant emotional distress experience IBS. The mind and body are connected. When the mind tightens up, holds on, and can’t let go, the gut will respond in a similar way as well.
What Methods Can Help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
The most common treatments for IBS are changes in diet and lifestyle.
There can be certain foods that affect IBS negatively therefore, changes to diet can help control the IBS symptoms. Small changes to your lifestyle can also go a long way. For example, improving sleep, exercising regularly, starting a meditation practice can help manage IBS symptoms.
Other common treatments for IBS are psychological treatments since we know that IBS usually occurs when there is emotional distress. Common psychological treatments are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Hypnotherapy, and Biofeedback.
A very famous technique called “gut directed hypnotherapy” was developed by P.J. Whorwell. The technique involves 7-12 hypnotherapy sessions with suggestions to enhance mind-body connection and gain control over the reactions in the digestive system.
How can Hypnotherapy Help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Quick research will show that more and more hypnotherapy is becoming a reliable, accepted, and effective treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome because hypnosis allows us to work with the subconscious mind to strengthen the mind-body connection.
Hypnosis is the ultimate therapeutic tool to improve the mind-body connection while releasing the stuck tensions, emotions, and stressors. It’s very effective because it targets the most powerful part of the mind: the the subconscious mind.
The subconscious mind sends the signals directly to the gut. When there are repressed emotions or tensions in the subconscious mind, the mind sends the signals of contraction to the body. As a result, the colon and the digestive tract start to work irregularly as well.
In sum, hypnotherapy is an approach that targets the mind-body connection, stress relief, body relaxation, relaxing the digestive system as well as dealing with the causes of emotional stress. The results can be magical in a relatively short time because the subconscious mind will be working for you instead of against you!
How does Hypnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Work?
Hypnotherapy methods will change according to the hypnotherapist and the IBS patient. When it comes to hypnotherapy for IBS, there is no one-size-fits-all type of approach. However, there are some common practices that a hypnotherapist can use:
Body relaxation
Body relaxation, also known as progressive relaxation, is included in all hypnosis practices. Part of the hypnosis experience is being fully relaxed and comfortable.
During body relaxation, the person will be able to relax every single muscle intentionally. You will be surprised to see how you may be holding tensions in the most unexpected areas of the body unconsciously!
This relaxation allows the body’s sensations to let go and enables us to focus on the mind even more.
Digestive tract relaxation and control
Usually, IBS patients feel an excessive contraction in their digestive muscles, abdomen, and colons. Relaxing these muscles can help normal functions to return.
Additionally, IBS patients may also feel out of control and out of touch with their bodies. Reinforcing the control within can help with regulating functions of the digestive tract daily.
Mind-body connection
The main reason for IBS is miscommunication between the gut and the brain. The mind sends the wrong signals of contraction and tension to the gut. During hypnosis, with the positive suggestions and imagery journeys, this mind-body connection is reinforced. Subsequently, the symptoms can decrease or disappear completely.
Guided Imagery
Guided imagery is a technique that has been used in meditations and hypnosis for a long time. The subconscious mind works with symbols and their meanings very well. Personalized guided imagery during hypnosis can bring powerful results for IBS patients.
This can be a journey in a secret garden where waters flow with ease or can be a walk in a safe forest in which the path is protected from storms and rains.
Stress and tension release
Although we don’t know much about the causes of IBS, one thing we know is that stress triggers the symptoms. With hypnosis, stress and tension release can bring relief from the symptoms and the original cause of the emotional distress.
Because of the symptoms and the effects of the symptoms in daily life, IBS sufferers may experience chronic anxiety and stress. The problem is, anxiety and stress will worsen the symptoms. Result? Getting stuck in a vicious cycle of stress and pain.
Hypnosis can help with releasing these stressors from the subconscious mind, resulting in freedom from the toxic cycle.
Body syndromes
According to some hypnotherapists, the body responds and reacts according to what goes on in the subconscious mind.
Do you have lots of responsibilities that are stressful to handle? You may have shoulder problems. Did you witness things that you rather not see? You may develop eye problems. According to this theory, the stomach and digestive area are associated with tensions, worry, and anxiety.
During hypnosis, the hypnotherapist can focus on the cause and identify what tensions you may be holding on to. What parts of your life are you afraid to let go of? Where in your life do you feel out of control?
How long does the treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Hypnosis take?
The treatment with hypnosis for IBS can be a short or a long process since hypnotherapy is a very personal therapeutic approach. However, it’s safe to expect between 4 to 12 sessions depending on the person. Of course, this number can go up or down according to you.
Can Self-hypnosis Help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Self-hypnosis is a brilliant self-help tool that can help with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Just like hypnosis, self-hypnosis also involves body relaxation, deep breathing, and mental focus. These are already great steps to help with IBS. Additionally, during self-hypnosis, you can give yourself positive affirmations and use your imagination positively.
For example, during self-hypnosis, you can give yourself affirmations such as “My digestive tract is working easily and functioning normally”. These positive affirmations become more powerful during a hypnotic state. With consistency and repetition, you will start seeing improvements in the IBS symptoms.
Final words
If you think you may be suffering from IBS, make sure to see your doctor before you seek any other help. Self-diagnoses hardly work these days! After you are diagnosed with IBS, start with what makes sense to you first. Sometimes just simple changes to diet and lifestyle can be very effective. If you think IBS is the result of emotional distress, hypnotherapy can be a very successful method to help you.