Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, affecting up to one in five people in the UK. It can be debilitating and very uncomfortable. Symptoms vary between people but the following are common:
- Stomach ache, spasms and cramps
- Excessive wind
- Abdominal bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
- Nausea
You don’t need to suffer in silence
Perhaps you experience a combination of these Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Maybe they vary between mild, where they don’t impact your quality of life, to serious, prompting you to visit your doctor. Have you found yourself becoming anxious, depressed or socially isolated as a consequence of your IBS?
When your doctor diagnosed you with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the treatment you were offered may have been limited to dietary advice and medication to reduce your symptoms.
Perhaps you’ve been back to your doctor multiple times and they’ve told you that some symptoms ‘just have to be lived with’. Maybe they’ve given you vague and unhelpful advice to ‘relax’.
If you’ve found that these approaches aren’t working for you and you’re fed up of being fobbed off, it could be time to try something different.
How hypnotherapy can help
Hypnotherapy is endorsed by The National Institute for Clinical and Care Excellence (NICE) as an evidenced-based therapy that can help with IBS symptoms. Hypnotherapy can’t promise to cure IBS but in cases where your doctor believes it’s caused by stress or anxiety, it can be incredibly effective in helping you manage the symptoms.
Did you know that worrying about IBS can prolong symptoms too? Perhaps you worry about going on long journeys or being ‘caught short’ when you’re out?
If you’ve got a lot going on in your life and your IBS seems to have emotional triggers, hypnotherapy can also be effective in addressing these.
As an integrative Hypno-Psychotherapist, I am trained in psychotherapy and can work with you to find an approach that works for you, rather than being constrained to a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Hypnotherapy is medically approved for the treatment of IBS
NICE’s endorsement of hypnotherapy as a treatment for IBS came about thanks to Dr Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology. He is medically trained and has carried out numerous research studies into IBS.
Whorwell now runs the South Manchester Functional Bowel Service and uses gut-directed hypnotherapy, with great rates of success. I also take a gut-directed approach with my clients which can help manage the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
How long does it take?
The duration of therapy depends on the person. In simpler cases where symptoms just require management, clients may see differences in 4-6 sessions. In other cases where there are emotional triggers to work on, treatment can take longer. Client progress is monitored on a session by session basis and recommendations will be made accordingly. There is always an opportunity to have follow-up sessions in future if required.