Hypnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What is IBS?
IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder.
Symptoms include the following:-
Abdominal discomfort or pain (can be severe)
Disordered bowel habit (constipation/diarrhoea)
Bloating and distension of the gut
Other non intestinal manifestations can be as follows:-
Nausea
Affects mood, lifestyle, sex life, menstruation (women)
Urinary infections
Low back pain
Flatulence
Tiredness/fatigue
Other issues that surround this syndrome are that people feel stigmatised and don’t like to admit to having IBS. It is not life threatening but sufferers often feel hopeless due to the inadequacies of treatment available
Causes of IBS
The causes of IBS are many. There has been a great deal of research but no definite conclusions.
IBS is still diagnosed on the basis of the exclusion of other medical problems. Disordered gut motility, gut sensitivity, gut inflammation, genetic, psychological and dietary factors may all play a part in the causation and maintenance of IBS.
Between 20-25% of the population report symptoms of IBS at some point in their lives. Women seem to present more commonly with IBS symptoms than men.
Hypnotherapy has proved to be very effective in helping to minimise the severity of IBS symptoms. The quality of life is improved, less time is taken off work and less doctors consultations are needed. The benefits are long term.
Dr Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology at the University Hospital of South Manchester is an expert and advisor on functional gastrointestinal disorders. He has been using hypnotherapy to treat IBS patients for the last 20 years. In a recent study, 250 patients who had suffered with IBS for more than 2 years were given up to 12 one hour sessions of hypnotherapy. When asked to assess their symptoms and anxiety levels pre- and post-treatment and for up to 6 years afterwards, 71% of patients said that it had been of considerable help. Patients reported taking less medication and most said the effects lasted up to 5 years.
Hypnotherapy for IBS at our clinics is based on the Peter Whorwell method of treatment.
The therapy is focussed on the gut and managing/controlling the symptoms.
The key components of the hypnotherapy programme are:-
Creating calmness/peacefulness
The mind becoming stronger
Control
On the road to recovery
Continued improvement.
It is suggested that a minimum of 6 sessions would be helpful. Contact us at Wellbeing hypnotherapy and take the first step to helping manage the suffering IBS imposes.