How many have experienced irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or diarrhoea at some point? There are too many. Ayurveda holds that the quality of your digestion, or digestive Agni (fire), has a significant impact on the state of your health. Therefore, let’s not disregard constipation or diarrhoea, especially if it persists for extended periods.
Moreover, stress and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have a well-documented relationship. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and anxiety have a complicated and reciprocal interaction that influences each other. Let us find out more about it.
Are IBS and stress anxiety related?
Stressful situations, including job pressure, interpersonal conflict, or significant life changes, might bring on the beginning or deterioration of IBS symptoms. It could involve bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, and stomach pain. In addition, stress sets off the body’s “fight-or-flight” reaction, which can interfere with proper digestion and exacerbate IBS symptoms.
Fighting or running away from danger are the two ways our bodies have been trained to react in stressful situations. The body experiences a surge of energy and power due to the release of hormones like adrenalin and cortisol, which also decrease digestion, increase blood supply to major muscle groups, and change several other autonomic nerve activities. The body stops digesting and prepares to store its energy because it is unsure how long the stress will likely last.
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Scientific Mechanisms
Stress’s impact on brain-gut communication alters gut motility, sensitivity, and secretion. The enteric nervous system (ENS), frequently called the “second brain,” is a dense network of nerves found in the gut. The central nervous system (CNS), which manages our stress response, is coupled to the ENS. Stress can interfere with the CNS’s and ENS’s natural signalling process, worsening IBS symptoms.
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Psychiatric variables
IBS is a chronic ailment that can make daily life emotionally tricky. The unpredictability of symptoms can bring anxiety, despair, and other psychological distress, the effect on day-to-day activities, and the social stigma associated with digestive problems. These psychological factors can, in turn, make irritable bowel syndrome symptoms worse and start a vicious cycle of stress and tummy pain.
How does irritable bowel syndrome stress management work?
Identifying the root causes of chronic stress and anxiety, working on them to see how they can help us manage a particularly stressful situation, and arming ourselves with the resources we have identified to cope with it are all things we can do to lessen their physiological manifestations. However, we cannot change the physiological images alone. However, through health and wellness coaching, this is highly possible.
Therefore, the next time you encounter IBS symptoms, start by figuring out the stresses in your life, what caused them, your contrasting strengths, and the one health objective you’re driven to reach. Once you have determined your stress’s primary cause or causes, consider ways to address the issue as soon as feasible.
Stress-reduction techniques include meditation, pranayama, yoga asanas, and establishing a regular daily routine. Additionally, a generally upbeat outlook on life will be beneficial in reducing some of the stress. Finally, watch to see whether these adjustments improve your digestion.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of IBS might differ from person to person, and not everyone will experience them all. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms mainly include:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort also described as cramping or aching.
- Changes in bowel habits- Some people get diarrhoea, characterized by loose or watery stools. Others might experience constipation, with irregular or difficult stools.
- Extra gas and bloating
- Abnormality in stool composition
- Stool containing mucus
- Feeling that a bowel movement is incomplete
Who will help you with stress-induced IBS symptoms?
In persistent cases, interventions are also necessary in addition to the coaching method. However, when we approach it from the perspective of a Health & Wellness Coach, the holistic approach enables us to decentralise this idea, delve deeper within, and find the underlying reason for the tension or anxiety. Health & Wellness Coaching strives to create our agenda around this, establish a goal to lessen the fundamental cause, not just the symptoms, and bring about a lasting transformation in the process.
Your Health and wellness coach with Ayurveda knowledge can help you determine whether you have any dosha imbalances by scheduling an appointment. The doctor’s recommended herbs and treatments will be of great assistance. Sometimes a vata or pitta imbalance might lead to IBS. You can utilise the aid of health and wellness coaching to identify the root reasons and learn how to manage or prevent the illness.
Stress management techniques for managing stress-related IBS
To manage IBS symptoms, stress management is crucial. Here are some tactics that could be useful:
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Calming strategies
Use relaxation methods, including yoga, gradual muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and meditation. These will help in reducing tension.
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Routine exercise
Exercise helps reduce stress and enhance general well-being, so get moving regularly. Pick pastimes that you can easily fit into your schedule and those you love doing.
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Diet modifications
Keep an eye on your diet and look for any trigger foods that make your symptoms worse. To create a custom food plan, think about working with a certified dietitian who focuses on digestive health.
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Sleeping well
build a regular sleep schedule, create a peaceful nighttime routine, and improve your sleeping environment to prioritise healthy sleep habits. A good night’s sleep is a crucial factor in stress reduction.
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Network of support
Maintain a solid network of family, friends, or support organisations. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with sympathetic listeners might help you feel better emotionally and reduce stress.
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Stress reduction methods
Investigate stress-reduction methods like counselling, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). These methods can assist you in creating stress-reduction techniques.
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Health and wellness coach
A health and wellness coach can provide personalised guidance and support tailored to your needs. They collaborate with you to comprehend the particular stressors, IBS issues, and goals you face.
Weljii: Your Coach to a Stress-free Life
To manage irritable bowel syndrome stress, working with a health and wellness coach can be helpful. A health and wellness coach is qualified to assist people in adopting healthy lifestyle adjustments that enhance overall well-being, such as managing chronic diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and reducing stress.
You can learn different stress management techniques from a coach, and they can also help you work them into your everyday routine. In addition, they can offer resources and methods for successfully managing irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
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