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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)

Nervous stomach? You're not alone. Pain in the stomach and abdominal area is a common symptom for a range of issues, and anxiety and stress may be responsible for this pain if no other biological cause (e.g., stomach ulcers) can be found.

If you’ve ever experienced 'butterflies in your stomach’ then you have felt effects of the stress-gut connection. Stress is associated with a variety of bodily effects and may contribute to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Understanding and managing stress can help reduce symptoms of IBS and leave you feeling well again.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term gastrointestinal disorder that causes discomfort and pain abdomen. It is also known as spastic colon, mucous colitis and nervous colon. IBS may cause distress and impact quality of life, but does not lead to severe complications.

If you are in pain right now, you’re not alone. Pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the doctor. Studies estimate that between 11 % and 40 % of the population experiences pain.[1] Low back pain, neck pain and headaches are the leading causes of disability worldwide, with almost two billion people affected by recurrent tension-type headaches alone.[2]

Does hypnosis for sleep work? Sleep is an activity that takes up a third of our lives. We know that it is essential for the normal function of various body systems, including memory consolidation, hormone release and brain energy restoration. Lack of sleep can be the cause of different physical and mental health conditions. Studies show that people with chronic sleep disorders have a build-up of a specific protein, called beta-amyloid, in their brain. The protein attacks the brain’s long-term memory and has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (1).

Have you ever felt ‘butterflies in your stomach’ when nervous? According to science, there is a very real connection between gut and mind. This ‘gut-brain’ explains how stress and anxiety can contribute to IBS, and also how the food you eat can impact your mental health. By understanding the mind-gut connection, science can help improve your mental and gastrointestinal health.

Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a “public health emergency of international concern”, lives have changed for many of us. Our thoughts, conversations and daily activities have become dominated by the coronavirus narrative.

What is a spastic colon? Spastic colon is another term for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common condition with symptoms including cramping, constipation or diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. The term ‘spastic colon’ comes from the idea that muscle spasms in the large intestine were to blame for abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. However, IBS is now known to be influenced by more factors beyond muscle spasms, and the term ‘IBS’ is used to cover a wider range of gastrointestinal symptoms. If you have a spastic colon, learning some basic information about IBS may help you to find appropriate treatment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm and become a global pandemic. The flu-like symptoms are well known, such as dry cough and fever, however, the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are less widely acknowledged. Symptoms such as diarrhoea and loss of appetite occur in up to half of patients with coronavirus, and it is crucial that these symptoms are made known (1). This article explains the digestive issues caused by the Coronavirus and compares them to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition experienced by 1 in 7 people globally (2).

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic. The virus causes well-known symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath. However, the virus may also induce digestive (gastrointestinal) symptoms in around half of the patients, and may be transmitted through poo. It is important clinicians and the public are aware of the link between the coronavirus and the digestive system to prevent the spread of the virus.

If you could choose between visiting your doctor’s office and receiving care from the comfort of your home, which one would you prefer?

Looking for natural home remedies for IBS? It can be hard to keep your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under control but we've found some common herbs and home remedies that can support your gut health.

Ever just know that someone else doesn’t like you without ever finding out for real? If you have, you may have been suffering from one of the many thinking traps or cognitive distortions that can hijack your brain. In 1976, psychologist Aaron Beck first proposed the theory behind cognitive distortions and in the 1980s, David Burns was responsible for popularizing it with common names and examples for the distortions.

Anxiety causes activation of the ‘fight or flight’ response – which can be a good thing, prompting us to take extra precautions. However, when these feelings persist in when there is no threat, they may take a toll on our physical health and cause diarrhea. Understanding this link may help you avoid symptoms and feel well again.

IBS and nausea are unfortunately interlinked. Nausea is an unpleasant sensation involving the urge to vomit, and a common symptom in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Nausea affects roughly one-third of people with IBS. (1) The symptom of nausea may substantially affect quality of life and may lead to anxiety and depression. (2)

Have you arrived home after a drive and not remembered the details of the drive? Almost everyone who drives has had this common experience, a phenomenon that has come to be called highway hypnosis.