Psychologist & Hypnotherapist in Bromley

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

One of the most common presenting problems that people bring to therapy is their fear of not being able to control their bowel movements and find a toilet in time. As a result, their lives become governed by knowing where the nearest toilet is situated and if this is not possible, they will often avoid going out or even resort to swallowing handfuls of diarrhoea stopping tablets to control the symptoms.

Visits to the GP often lead to the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, driven by food intolerance. People often do not eat before they go out or limit what they eat to bland foods. Life revolves around this symptom, and simple tasks like a meeting at work or travelling on an Underground train becomes extremely difficult.

The difference between a sudden urge to evacuate one’s bowels because something has disagreed with you or you have contracted Gastroenteritis and the urge brought on by anxiety is one of control. Very often if the person is distracted by something else or they are feeling relaxed they forgot all about the need to use the toilet .Symptoms generally manifest themselves when people feel trapped and are unable to leave situations as on an Underground train.

Our brain is linked to the gut via the Vagus nerve and when the brain perceives a threat it releases stress hormones that overstimulates the gut causing spasms, diarrhoea and in some cases even difficulty in swallowing. Sometimes this over stimulation is driven by repressed emotions, traumas as well as stress. Reframing repressed memories and dysfunctional thinking patterns and learning to relax using hypnosis is a means of empowering the clients to take control of their gut.

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