Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms. If you suffer from IBS it can be debilitating and sometimes leave you feeling down and frustrated. I help people with IBS pain using Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy. If you are asking, how do you relieve IBS pain, hypnotherapy is certainly a treatment to consider. For more about my sessions in London and online, click here.
How do you relieve IBS pain?
Everyone is different but IBS will have some common symptoms. These can include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Bloating and gas
- Diarrhoea and/or constipation
- Urgent need to have a bowel movement (urgency)
- Mucus in the stool
- Some people will also experience nausea and reflux
While the exact cause of IBS remains unknown, it’s believed to be a combination of factors, including:
- Gut motility: Abnormal muscle contractions in the intestines can lead to pain, cramping, and diarrhoea or constipation.
- Increased sensitivity: People with IBS may be more sensitive to sensations in their gut, making normal digestion feel uncomfortable.
- Stress: Stress can worsen IBS symptoms, and some people find their symptoms flare up during stressful times.
- Microbiome imbalance: The gut microbiome, the community of bacteria in your intestines, may play a role in IBS.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of IBS, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out other conditions. Once diagnosed, there’s no cure for IBS, but there are ways to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. How do you relieve IBS pain can be a personal choice. But how do you relieve IBS pain can be doen so in a number of common treatments and as mentioned, I use Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy. I will explain more how hypnotherapy helps IBS shortly. Let’s now explore some strategies for relieving IBS pain, including dietary and lifestyle changes, and , yes, introduce gut-directed hypnotherapy as a potential tool for managing your IBS.
How Do You Relieve IBS Symptoms Through Diet?
Dietary changes can significantly impact IBS symptoms. Here are some tips:
- Identify food triggers: Keeping a food diary can help you pinpoint specific foods that worsen your symptoms. Common triggers include dairy products, gluten, fatty or fried foods, spicy foods, and certain fruits and vegetables. Once you identify triggers, consider eliminating or reducing them in your diet.
- Increase fibre intake: Fiber helps regulate bowel movements and can be beneficial for both constipation and diarrhoea. However, some high-fibre foods can cause gas and bloating initially. Introduce fibre gradually and choose soluble fibre sources like fruits, vegetables, and psyllium husk.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day can help soften stool and prevent constipation. Avoid sugary drinks and opt for water, herbal teas, or diluted fruit juices.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals: Large meals can overwhelm your digestive system. Try eating smaller portions throughout the day to reduce discomfort.
- Consider a low FODMAP diet: The FODMAP diet restricts certain types of carbohydrates that can be difficult to digest and trigger IBS symptoms. This approach may be helpful, but it’s recommended to consult a registered dietitian for guidance.
How Do You Relieve IBS Pain Through Lifestyle Changes?
Lifestyle modifications can significantly improve IBS symptoms. Consider these tips:
- Manage stress: Stress can worsen IBS symptoms. Relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can be very helpful.
- Get regular exercise: Regular physical activity can improve gut motility and reduce stress, both beneficial for IBS management.
- Get enough sleep: Aim for eight hours of quality sleep each night. Poor sleep can exacerbate IBS symptoms.
- Manage time effectively: Feeling overwhelmed can worsen stress, which in turn can trigger IBS symptoms. Develop time management strategies and prioritise self-care.
How Can Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy Help?
Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a form of hypnotherapy specifically designed to target IBS symptoms. I run sessions of hypnotherapy in London and online. I have helped many people reduce their IBS symptoms. How do you relieve IBS pain isn’t straightforward for most people. However though hypnotherpay can be highly effective, it isn’t a quick process, but it is a medication-free way to feel better.
During hypnotherapy itself, you’ll be guided into a state of deep relaxation where you’re more receptive to suggestions. As your hypnotherapist, I will then use positive suggestions to help you regulate gut function, reduce pain perception, and manage stress. As mentioned it can take time. Most people will have at least six sessions, often more. I also recommend having daily hypnosis audios. These you listen to at home.
Here are some ways gut-directed hypnotherapy may help with IBS pain:
Reduce muscle contractions: Hypnotherapy can help relax the muscles in your digestive system, potentially reducing abdominal pain and cramping.
Improve gut sensitivity: Hypnotherapy can help influence how you perceive sensations in your gut, potentially making normal digestion feel less bothersome.
Manage stress: Hypnotherapy is a powerful stress-management tool, and reducing stress can significantly improve IBS symptoms.
As a hypnotherapist specialising in gut-directed hypnotherapy, I’ve seen firsthand how this approach can help people manage their IBS pain and improve their quality of life. Maybe it can help you too.
Of course everyone is different and I can’t guarantee results. It’s important to note that gut-directed hypnotherapy can be very effective for some, it may not work as well for everyone. However, as hypnotherapy really doesn’t have any side effects, you have little to lose. I often find with clients, that other areas of life, from confidence, work to relationships improve also following sessions.
While gut-directed hypnotherapy offers a valuable tool for managing IBS pain, here are some other ways hypnotherapy could be helpful:
- Through hypnotherapy and dietary and lifestyle changes, we can aim to address the causes of IBS triggers, promoting long-term management. Hypnotherapy can empower you to respond more effectively to these changes and manage stress that can exacerbate them.
- Combining hypnotherapy with a medical, dietary or other approaches can enhance results. For instance, reducing dietary triggers alongside hypnotherapy can lead to a faster reduction in symptoms. Stress management through hypnotherapy helps you maintain healthy dietary choices. For example cutting down comfort or emotional eating.
- The best approach to IBS management is personalised. As an experienced hypnotherapist I frequently help people identify specific areas for improvement and so tailor hypnotherapy sessions to address your unique needs.
How do you relieve IBS pain? Book hypnotherapy today
So, we have asked, how do you relieve IBS pain? I hope this article has been helpful. To book gut-directed hypnotherapy, get in touch today. Click here to find out more about my sessions in London and online.
