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Want to talk to your doctor about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? It's not always easy to discuss sensitive subjects. Even if they've heard it all before, it might be the first time you've spoken to a healthcare professional about your symptoms—or the first time you’ve thought about what kinds of treatments you want to try.

Have you ever found yourself deeply absorbed in a movie or book? If so, you may have experienced hypnosis, a naturally occurring state of consciousness. Hypnosis can be induced with help from a therapist or alone. In self-hypnosis, you listen to your own suggestions to achieve your goals. For people with anxiety, self-hypnosis can help them calm anxious nerves and soothe excessive worrying. Read on to learn how to perform self-hypnosis and reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Many mums-to-be experience a range of digestive issues during pregnancy, including diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, vomiting, nausea, and bloating. While not every pregnancy will include all these symptoms, few expectant mothers are lucky enough to avoid all digestive upset.

Scared of having an IBS attack at work? You're not alone. Working with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be difficult for many people. Whether it's the fear of an IBS flare-up, embarrassment about sharing a bathroom, or experiencing concentration difficulties—it can feel like there are countless ways IBS can stop you from feeling comfortable and confident at work.

Sleep hygiene is as important as physical hygiene: it's essential to our health, our wellbeing, and our longevity. Yet, despite its importance, many people struggle to get enough good quality sleep.

When every bite of food can take one step closer to spending the night on the toilet, you may start to become overly wary of what—and where—you eat.

We all know IBS can be a pain in the gut—but did you know it can be a pain in the back, head, and jaw too? After bloating, pain is the most common IBS symptom, with more than 75% of all people with IBS experiencing frequent or constant abdominal pain. IBS pain is often reported in the lower abdomen, though people may experience pain directly or indirectly related to IBS in multiple places around the body.

"I don’t feel attractive or desirable when I am gassy or having frequent bowel movements".

Want to try hypnosis to quit smoking? Science shows that it may be an effective tool to help you kick the habit for good. Many people find it extremely difficult to stop smoking—so difficult, in fact, that recent research suggests it can take around 30 attempts to successfully quit.

How does it feel to have anxiety? When people talk about anxiety, you might immediately imagine someone who worries excessively. While this is part of the anxiety experience, the effects of anxiety can be seen and felt in the body, too.

What is menopause and when will it start? While some people call the time leading up to their last period ‘menopause’, menopause is actually when your period stops permanently. The process of menopause usually starts when a woman is around 45 years old and is a natural part of aging whereby the ovaries slowly stop producing hormones, such as estrogen.

Feeling cursed with an irritable bowel but still want a happy (candy-filled) Halloween? While IBS flare-ups can be frightful at any time of year, many people find that Halloween treats can trigger a variety of uncomfortable gut symptoms, such as pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

Growth mindset or fixed mindset—can the way we think about ourselves and our abilities shape our lives? Absolutely. The way we think about our intellect and talents not only affects the way we feel, it can also affect what we achieve, whether we stick to new habits, or if we will go on to develop new skills.

If you have IBS, you’ve probably wondered “is there a scientifically-proven diet to improve my symptoms?” We’re here to tell you that, yes, there is! The low FODMAP diet has been shown in numerous studies to improve symptoms such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain for people with IBS.

Looking for ways to treat your IBS at home? Whether you’re searching for relief between doctor’s appointments or wanting to take control of your symptoms without medication, there are a range of effective at-home treatments for IBS. Lifestyle changes, diet changes, or even gut-brain hypnotherapy programs can improve IBS symptoms. And, as an added bonus, many at-home remedies are simple to do and are low or no cost.

Have you ever wondered why poops are different during your period? While people might not talk about it, most women will experience a monthly change in their toilet habits. In addition to your period causing symptoms like headaches, bloating, and skin breakouts, your menstrual cycle can also affect your digestive system. One reason for this is because the same hormones that stimulate uterine contractions can also stimulate your bowels. The result: period poops. 

Looking for ways to calm an IBS flare up? You're not alone. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal condition affecting around 15% of people, with symptoms including stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. Although IBS is typically a chronic (long-lasting) condition, many people's symptoms come and go. If you're experiencing an increase in symptoms, here are some helpful strategies to soothe an IBS flare-up.

Can peppermint oil help with IBS? Peppermint oil has been used for centuries as a lip balm, toothpaste, and cold remedy but recent evidence shows that it is useful for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Have you ever found yourself deeply engrossed in a book? Or so caught up in a film that time seemed to pass effortlessly? If so, you may have experienced a routine form of hypnosis, what many practitioners refer to as the “everyday trance.”

Can hypnosis help social anxiety? The science seems to suggest so! Social anxiety is more than shyness. It is a serious mental health condition that causes persistent fear of social situations. It often starts during the teenage years then persists into older age, and treatment may be required.

In an unlucky twist of fate, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) places you at a higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both conditions affect the digestive system and may impact quality of life.Occasional heartburn is common, but GERD occurs when heartburn is frequent. IBS is a collection of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as pain in the abdomen and constipation or diarrhea. Having one of these conditions is bad enough, but many people have to deal with both.

IBS and anxiety are unfortunately very much connected, with up to 40% of IBS patients also suffering from an anxiety disorder. Why is this the case and what does it mean for treating IBS? It's all down to the gut-brain connection.

In a recent randomized controlled trial, Australian researchers showed that hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. The team from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, showed hypnotherapy was equal in effectiveness to the low FODMAP diet for relieving symptoms of IBS such as bloating and abdominal pain.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and depression often occur together. However, depression does not directly cause IBS and depression is not the sole cause of IBS. Understanding the connection between IBS symptoms and mood disorders will help patients who suffer from both to receive better treatment. This article will discuss the overlap between depression and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and outline the available treatment options.

Suffering from anxiety and constipation? You're not alone. Constipation is a common problem for both children and adults. According to diagnostic criteria, constipation is fewer than three bowel movements in one week. Constipation affects one in five people globally and in higher rates among the elderly.(1),(2)