Are you one of many millions of people who have been diagnosed with IBS?  Are you a ‘people-pleaser?  Are you a perfectionist?

What does being a perfectionist have to do with IBS? As an integrated nutritional therapist, I believe there is a strong connection between the emotions and the digestion the ‘mind-body’ connection. If you are a person who is keen to achieve perfection in daily life, or who has high standards of achievement, then you may suffer from ‘Emotionally-Induced’ IBS.

Your symptoms of IBS will vary from:

• Abdominal Pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Flatulence
• Anxiety

Your Doctor will probably have prescribed you with anti-spasmodic medication or anti-depressants to ease the anxiety and depression associated with the condition. Nutritional therapy recognises that although diet and good nutrition play a large part of supporting the digestive system back to good health so, too, does stress and emotional management.

Emotionally- induced IBS is a theory supported by Dr John Sarno, Prof of Clinical rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University School Of Medicine as well as Dr Mark Atkinson, International Expert in Mind-Body healing and Clinical Nutritionist. He has also established the Academy of Human Potential in 2008 which looks closely at integrated medicine and mind-body healing.

Many sufferers with IBS symptoms will have emotionally induced IBS which is a mind-body condition in which the brain creates the symptoms of spasms, pain, distension, diarrhoea etc in order to distract the individual from emotional pain or stress related ‘pain’ that is threatening to break through. Many IBS clients have learnt how to suppress and repress their emotions from childhood and they tend to be people pleasers or perfectionists.

To find out more or to find out if your IBS is Emotionally-Induced, please contact Natural Solutions for a questionnaire and assessment form.

Well, the first solution would be to identify any underlying digestive issues such as food intolerances or sensitivities, gut flora imbalances and stomach acidity. Once, the digestion is working well, we can begin to look at more emotional, stress related issues to calm down the stress response and support the stress-digestion connection. Stress activates the fight or flight response which in turn shuts down digestion, reducing the secretion of digestive juices and essential enzymes needed for absorption and assimilation.

Many of you will have experienced the nausea and even diarrhoea when a challenging situation such as exams or driving tests occur, this is fine if it is an isolated incidence but if stress is long-term then the consequences are impaired digestive function.

Nutritional Therapy will look at your imbalances related to your stress, emotions and digestive symptoms. If you would like to find out more, please contact Natural Solutions.