Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic psycho-physiological disorder. It is considered to be the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, and about 50–90% of IBS patients have associated psychiatric co-morbidity.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system. Symptoms can include stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. The condition is often lifelong, although the symptoms may change over time.
IBS is not a psychological disorder but has come to be closely linked with both stress and anxiety. Even people who do not experience IBS can find themselves needing to go to the toilet when they are experiencing stressed nervous or anxious.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the stomach and intestines, also called the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term.
Connecting IBS to anxiety
However, anxiety doesn't cause IBS, and IBS doesn't cause anxiety. However, the two disorders are known to exacerbate each other, leading to what's often described as gastrointestinal-specific anxiety (GSA).
However, for some, the symptoms of their IBS make it impossible for them to engage in many daily activities, including holding down a job. If the symptoms of your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are so severe that you are unable to work, you may qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.
PB IBS is a disorder of gut-brain communication, and accumulating data suggest that the gut microbiome plays a key role in its pathogenesis. There are several lines of evidence to support this concept.
EMOTIONAL PATTERNS AND IBS
Research that has examined negative emotions in relation to the main pathophysiological and symptomatic correlates of IBS has most commonly considered anger, anxiety, and depression[67,113,114]. Such discrete emotions have been consistently associated to visceral and pain hypersensitivity.
'Chronic stress can cause an imbalance of the gut's bacteria and be a key factor in a person developing IBS. ' Stress and major life traumas are known to worsen IBS symptoms. Many people experience spikes in their stress levels just before they start getting IBS symptoms.
IBS is closely linked with stress and anxiety. It can fluctuate according to the stresses and changes in your life. Research studies have shown a link between higher stress and anxiety and increased IBS. This is often made worse when people are anxious about having a flare up.
Trauma sensitises a person to everyday stress and may be responsible for many cases of IBS. Our stress reactions are orchestrated by changes in the activity of the autonomic nervous system and the release of the stress hormone cortisol3. They vary according to severity and are described below using traffic lights.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Brain
If you have IBS, the nerves in your gut are extremely sensitive, and the brain processes these signals from your gut differently than it would if you did not have IBS. Even small amounts of gas can trigger pain, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
Strong emotions like stress, anxiety, and depression trigger chemicals in the brain that turn on pain signals in your gut that may cause your colon to react. Stress and anxiety may make the mind more aware of spasms in the colon. IBS may be triggered by the immune system, which is affected by stress.
Some common at-home treatments for IBS include relaxation exercises, hypnotherapy, physical activity, dietary changes, applying heat, and consuming peppermint oil or other supplements (such as prebiotics and probiotics).
Is it all in your head? Many doctors and medical professionals believe that IBS is “all in your head,” meaning those with IBS have psychological problems, stress, anxiety or depression that is causing their symptoms or creating pain.
There's no test to definitively diagnose IBS . Your health care provider is likely to start with a complete medical history, physical exam and tests to rule out other conditions, such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, you might have uncomfortable or painful abdominal symptoms. Constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating are common IBS symptoms. IBS doesn't damage your digestive tract or raise your risk for colon cancer. You can often manage symptoms through diet and lifestyle changes.
Because IBS is not on the SSA's list of impairments, it may be more difficult to obtain disability claim approval. However, you can still apply and are eligible for approval if your condition significantly impairs your ability to work.
Symptoms of IBS can range from mild to severe. The main symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, or both. And you will probably experience abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. These symptoms often will temporarily improve after having a bowel movement, and that instant relief of course feels good.
Discussion: Compared with the general population, IBS does not increase the overall risk of cancer. Conversely, IBS is associated with lower risk of incident colorectal cancer and cancer-specific mortality.
It is OK to rest with IBS
If you are in pain and have become a slave to the bathroom, take the time to give your body a day or 2 to regroup. If you are able, take the time to nap in the afternoon so that your body can repair. Take time to perhaps sit in a warm bath to calm cramping or any type of soreness.
Negative emotions are known to trigger your body's immune system and increase its inflammatory response. This psychobiological connection between your brain and your gut prompts feelings of anger about your condition, which in turn, worsen your IBS symptoms.