Stress does not cause Irritable Bowel Symptoms but stress can make your symptoms more severe. The relationship between stress and IBS plays out in two ways. Exposure to stress may set off your symptoms.
In addition, dealing with IBS itself can be very overwhelming and stressful due to the annoying and disruptive nature of the symptoms. Most individuals keep Irritable Bowel Syndrome a secret and by keeping hidden from others cause feelings of embarrassment and shame that increasing the symptom outbreaks.
First and foremost, you need to find out what is causing your stress. Is it in the form of financial, emotional or mental stress? Once you find the root you can then work to start calming your digestive system.
Here are some ideas on how you can alleviate stress:
1) Relax - take time for yourself; take a bubble bath, read a book, listening to soothing music. In addition, it is crucial to get proper sleep.
2) Exercise - find stretches that help clear your mind and concentrate on breathing. Yoga and walking are my exercises of choice!
Yoga not only improves your overall health, but it does two key things to help control and minimize your IBS symptoms. For one, it aids in improving digestion by stabilizing it. Stable digestion? Just what you’ve been searching for, right? Not only that, but it decreases gas and bloating and can ease menstrual cramps which not only trigger IBS episodes but also exacerbate symptoms.
The other huge effect yoga has on IBS is the empowerment you’ll have over your condition through reducing anxiety, pain and stress. Yoga will make you stronger both physically and mentally. Remember, body-mind-spirit! This is how you win the war with a chronic condition like IBS.
3) Meditation - take 30 minutes out of your day to clear your mind and work on breathing. Make sure you choose a quiet and/or peaceful area to meditate.
4) Self Awareness - Be good to your body. Watch what you eat and keep yourself well hydrated. Don’t rush through dinner, eat slowly and relax.
5) Avoid Stress - Find ways to get rid of the things that are causing you to stress. Talking to someone (family, friends, and counselor) will help you cope with your troubles.
Modern day living is increasingly crazy and it is next to impossible to eliminate stress altogether. This is why it is in your best interest to find ways to lower your stress. You know your body, finding ways to relax; exercise and taking care of yourself will help decrease your Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
You can learn more about managing stress and IBS from the new book Natural Cures for IBS, published by Green Health Press (GHP). The book does a great job delivering up-to-date reviews of non-pharmaceutical strategies to relieve common IBS symptoms, including factors in your life that can aggravate your symptoms.
GHP sells an electronic version of the book for $39.95. I asked the publisher if I could offer my blog visitors a special discount. GHP agreed but couldn't decide how much they were willing discount the retail price.
I suggested we could let folks download it for free, in return for signing up for the Green Health Press mailing list. Thankfully, they agreed, so here's a link to get your own FREE COPY of Natural Cures for IBS. I wouldn't wait; IBS relief really could be just a click away!
Here's to your good health!
- Editor
