Managing the stress of irritable bowel syndrome

You may find that you were more anxious or stressed than you used to be, before you started experiencing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. This is common in people suffering from functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders like IBS.¹ This stress may be general or specifically triggered by GI events and symptoms, such as eating meals, abdominal pain or diarrhea. ¹ Symptom-specific anxiety is characterized by increased fear and worry about GI sensations, even mild ones. As a result, you may begin avoiding situations that could provoke symptoms and limit your activities to “safe” places. While such behaviors may reduce your stress in the short term, they can actually increase and prolong your overall anxiety. ¹

Treatments for managing anxiety and stress

Research shows that certain types of psychological treatments can have a beneficial impact on IBS. If you have moderate to severe IBS symptoms and are experiencing psychological distress, this type of treatment may be appropriate for you. Psychological treatments used to treat IBS include psychotherapy (dynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy), hypnotherapy, and relaxation therapy. These treatments can also be combined depending on your needs.¹

• Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping change thought and behavior patterns to reduce stress and improve IBS symptoms^1,2,3
• Hypnosis can help you relax your body, shift how you think about physical sensations, and improve the way your brain and gut work together.^1,2,3
• Relaxation training can help reduce stress and ease muscle tension ^2,3
• Interpersonal psychotherapy can help address stress triggered by interactions with other people⁵

In addition to alleviating symptoms, these therapies can allow you to discuss and explore personal matters without fear of judgement or blame.²  Talk to your doctor to learn more about these options and whether they may be appropriate for you.

Managing stress

In addition to psychological therapies, mindfulness techniques such as meditation may be helpful in managing IBS symptoms. These practices promote relaxation and may help improve general stress and symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and diarrhea.⁴ Furthermore, these techniques and movement therapies such as yoga or tai chi can generally be practiced without any concerning side effects.⁴

Studies support the use of psychological treatment for managing IBS symptoms. ¹ The choice of treatment will depend on your situation, needs, and available resources.¹ Psychological treatment may be part of a multi-component treatment program to help you better manage symptoms while addressing psychosocial difficulties such as abuse or loss that may be interfering with your daily life and ability to manage your illness. ¹