IBS and Hypersensitivity
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is considered a functional digestive condition, meaning that there isn’t anything that can be seen. It is instead, diagnosed based on a range of symptoms that an individual experiences. Interestingly, what has been found about IBS suffers is that they have a greater likelihood of hypersensitivity to pain, and this is usually intensified when patients are undergoing stress.
Hypersensitivity, is the brain perceiving pain and discomfort differently to people who don’t have IBS. In addition, it has been found that in IBS sufferers normal digestive processes can be perceived as painful or dangerous, due to the brain in a way overreacting.
Hypersensitivity and catastrophising
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I know for me when I was going through healing from my digestive issues, it was common for me to completely overreact when I had even minor symptoms. This was because I expected the worse and catastrophised about what might happen next. Once I realised that my brain was doing this I learned to respond with awareness and self-compassion.
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Here’s what I did:
1. Noticed the sensations without judging them or myself
Sometimes when I had symptoms I made them a whole lot worse by trying to figure out why and wondering what they meant. Noticing sensations instead involves naming what you feel in your body.
Interestingly, when I did this I often found that the physical symptoms I was experiencing weren’t as bad as my mind was making them out to be. I tried to see any ‘symptoms’ as a bunch or uncomfortable but not necessarily painful sensations
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2. Showed myself compassion
Having gut issues can be uncomfortable, annoying and at times very painful, it’s also easy to think that you’re the only one feeling like this (which according to the stats is definitely not true).
Self-compassion involves speaking kindly to ourselves especially when we’re not doing so well. I find this easiest if I speak to myself the way I would to a child or a friend who was upset or in pain.
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In the case of tummy upsets, I might place my hand on my tummy and say to myself “it’s okay darling, I know this hurts but you’re doing just fine and you’ll be okay”.
When I do practice self-compassion, I find that I naturally breathe a little deeper and in turn, the tension in my body eases a bit.
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3. Accepted the experience as best I could
Reminding myself that this is my experience right now and it doesn’t mean that I will feel like this is an hour, a day or a week always helped. Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up, it just means recognising and acknowledging how things are in the moment, even if we don’t want them to be this way.
Through acceptance, I was able to drop the struggle with the way things were and I stopped making the way I felt wrong. It didn’t always make me feel instantly better but what it did do is to stop amplifying my pain due to resisting it…..because we all know that what we resist persists…..acceptance, on the other hand, is just letting things be as they are.
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What have others done to help relieve their digestive issues…..and does this perspective on symptoms and hypervigilance ring true to you?
To learn more about how hypnosis can help digestive issues see my FAQ or book in a free consult.
