Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What causes irritable bowel syndrome?
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This suggests that there may be a psychological trigger in susceptible patients.
About 10 to 20 per cent of people will date the start of their symptoms to an acute gastroenteritis. In the remainder of cases, the trigger factor remains unidentified.
Abnormalities in peristalsis can often be seen in close relatives of people with IBS, although without symptoms. This suggests a trigger sets off the condition in susceptible people.
Nerve-signaling chemicals, particularly serotonin, appear to have an important role.
The symptoms of IBS
Most people's symptoms are so mild that they don't bother to see a doctor about them. However, some people can have symptoms that are more troublesome, especially abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhoea. People with more severe IBS are usually affected by one symptom more than the others - either pain, constipation or chronic diarrhoea.
The most common symptom is abdominal pain, which some people describe as aching or colicky. The pain may be mild or severe, and may be made either better or worse by opening the bowels, passing wind or eating. Pain may recur at a particular time of day, often in the evening. Women may find the fluctuation of pain relates to their menstrual cycle.
People with IBS often feel an urgent need to open their bowels, especially after breakfast. The stools may vary in consistency from hard and pellet-like to loose and watery, or just small amounts of mucus. Afterwards, there may be a sense that the bowels have not been completely emptied.
Women are more likely to suffer from constipation than diarrhoea.
Other symptoms include a bloated abdomen, excess wind, nausea, vomiting and indigestion. Some people also experience a sense of fullness. If the main symptom is diarrhoea, food passes through the digestive system faster than usual.
There may also be associated problems, such as back and groin pain, lethargy, depression, disturbed sleep and a tendency to urinate more frequently. The need to pass water is sometimes very urgent, and doing so can be painful (these symptoms are more common for women). Women may also experience painful periods and pain during sexual intercourse.
Why Hypnosis ?
When the client is first seen, they may wonder why they are being referred to a hypno-psychotherapist. They can be reassured that they are not beginning to lose their mind.
A full social history of how the IBS came about is taken to ensure that there are no contra indications and to gain insight into the client’s condition.
The roles of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are also explained with particular reference to Stress and the ‘flight or fight’ reflex and its effects on the gut and the body in general.
The client is then told how they can control their symptoms by the use of hypnosis.
After four to six sessions many clients will be reporting that their symptoms have reduced significantly. Many will be able to travel from home for two hours or more without being apprehensive.
As we all know, everyone comes to therapy with their own, unique set of problems and the means of tackling them should be suited to the client. Everyone progresses at their own rate and whilst many can lead a “normal” life again in around Eight (8) weeks others may take up to twelve weeks.
Of those who respond to hypnosis , researchers have claimed that 80% remain symptom free in a five year follow up.
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