Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): The Link To Depression and Anxiety How Can Counseling Help Your IBS and Mental Health?
IBS is not something structurally wrong with your belly. IBS is a bunch of symptoms.
7-16% of the general population has IBS.
IBS costs approximately $9,000 a year.
60-70% of IBS patients are women
Symptoms of IBS are:
Diarrhea
Constipation
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Gas
Those are physical symptoms of IBS. IBS can also be linked to depressive and anxious symptoms. It can create a cycle which I will explain in a bit. But first, more information about IBS.
Triggers of IBS flare-ups encompass a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
Life stress
Trauma
Abuse
Mood disorders
Poor coping skills
Social support
Genetics
FODMAPS
Fiber and water intake.
There are chemical messengers that are found in your gut. These messengers, such as serotonin, affect sleep, mood, sex, and appetite. The functioning of our GI track affects our emotions and vice versa. It creates a cycle.
Those with IBS are more aware of sensations in their gut than others do. A spasm or pain in the intestines may send a person with IBS into worry or even panic. They may start to spiral, worrying that they may have an accident or something embarrassing may happen. A person without IBS may not even notice it because they look at it just as a regular part of digestion.
IBS can be debilitating due to this brain-gut cycle.
So what can counseling do about this?
First of all, speak with your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist to rule out a structural problem.
Psychoeducation-A trained therapist can educate you further on the brain-gut link and how to change that cycle. They can explain how anxiety and fear can increase the problem with the gut, how a person with IBS can produce negative defense mechanisms, avoid situations, be less productive, and catastrophize.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for your gut-CBT is a modality used in counseling that is highly researched to help various issues. In counseling you can learn
New coping mechanisms
How to restructure your thinking to make your gut better and not worse
Change core beliefs
Better problem solving skill
What makes the IBS worse
Relaxation techniques
Mindfulness skills
Imagery
Exposure to the fears and pain to learn not to catastrophize
IBS pain and discomfort is NOT all in your head. These symptoms are real and are linked to your brain.
THEY CAN BE CHANGED.
YOU CAN FEEL BETTER
So talk to your doctor and work with a therapist that is trained in anxiety, depression, and IBS.
Karen Baum MA, LPCC-S, CST
419.277.4355
#IBS #counseling #Ohio #IrritableBowelSyndrome #bellypain #diarrhea #constipation #telehealth #therapy #anxioussymptoms #sadness #nervous #worry
