Strong emotional reactions, like nervousness, anger, fear and excitement, can lead to changes in the way your digestive system functions.
We’ve all experienced butterflies in our stomachs or a gut feeling that something isn’t right. But can mental health problems lead to more serious digestive issues like IBS?
Luckily, we’ve got answers.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, affecting up to 1 in 5 people at some point in their lives. The most common symptoms of IBS are recurring diarrhea and/or recurring constipation, but a person living with IBS may also experience abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and wind.
IBS can also impact on your energy levels, urinary system and cause back pain. There is no definitive diagnostic test for IBS, which is often diagnosed by ruling out conditions that have similar symptoms such as inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac disease.
It isn’t possible for someone living with digestive issues to tell the difference between IBS and other similar conditions, so it’s important to talk to your GP.
Self-diagnosis could lead to mismanagement of your symptoms and possibly making things worse.
Living with any recurring illness can have a detrimental effect on a person’s mental health. Coping with the added discomfort and pain associated with IBS takes energy and can leave a person feeling drained and fed up.
The added pressure of planning your diet, day and activity to accommodate symptoms might leave a person feeling hopeless and start to have an impact on self confidence. If this sounds like you, talking therapies might help you to address these issues.
The exact cause of IBS is unknown, although it has been linked closely with both stress and anxiety.
In fact, the gut and brain are so closely linked that someone who has tried to manage IBS through diet and lifestyle changes with no luck, might be prescribed antidepressants to help ease IBS symptoms. If you have had IBS for a long time and other treatments aren’t working, your GP might refer you for psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
It might come as a surprise to people living with chronic IBS, but your symptoms could well be triggered by your mental health. Focusing on improving mental health while reducing stress levels could be key to helping you manage your symptoms day to day.
The gut-brain connection works both ways. The link between mental health and digestive health was first discovered over a century ago, in a study that saw depression successfully treated by
introducing the lactobacillus bacteria into patients’ diets, a “friendly” bacteria known to aid digestion. Foods such as yoghurt, sauerkraut and sourdough bread contain lactobacillus.
According to Harvard Medical School, a person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. Meaning that a combination approach of addressing underlying mental health issues and digestive problems could maximise the chances of seeing improvements in both.
The NHS recommend some diet and lifestyle changes to help a person relieve IBS symptoms. These include drinking plenty of water, getting enough exercise, trying to find ways to relax, cooking homemade meals using fresh ingredients whenever possible and keeping a food diary so that you can identify any foods that trigger your symptoms.
Identifying psychological triggers for your IBS could help you address some of the underlying issues that are causing it. Common causes of stress and anxiety include financial worries, issues at work or problems in your home, personal life or relationships. Mind charity recommends making lifestyle changes as a part of managing your stress levels.
Relaxation techniques such as listening to music, having a bath or taking your dog for a walk could help you deal with stress, as could spending time with loved ones or practising your hobbies and interests.
If your mental health is having an impact on your day to day activities, you should talk to your GP about accessing treatment that can help. This might include medication or talking therapies. In England, you can self refer to IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) without needing a referral from your doctor.
