01/02/2026
A significant source of frustration for those with IBS is the type and quality of food consumed. Individuals prioritising a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables while avoiding takeaways, fast food, and sugary drinks tend to experience fewer IBS symptoms.
Individuals with IBS often face a higher chance of experiencing food intolerances or allergies. Common culprits include dairy, wheat, and gluten. Conducting an allergy test can be a straightforward way to identify potential triggers. Additionally, it can be beneficial to eliminate known irritants from the diet for a month, allowing the individual to observe how these foods affect their IBS symptoms.
The influence of diet on IBS is significant, and stress plays a crucial role as well. Those who experience IBS often recognise the connection between their stress and their symptoms. Feelings of fear, panic, and anxiety can trigger swift reactions in the digestive system. It’s common for individuals to feel a fluttering sensation in their stomach when anxiety strikes 🌀.
Some individuals experience IBS in a way that connects them to the emotional states impacting their health and overall well-being. The phrase “follow your gut feeling” is often linked to the awareness of emotions residing in the stomach area, helping to discern whether those feelings are uplifting or distressing. Many cultures regard the stomach as a significant centre for emotions. Thus, it can be inferred that those who experience IBS in this manner may be grappling with underlying issues that trigger these negative emotions, such as difficulties in personal relationships, workplace challenges, or specific fears and phobias that contribute to their stress.
Others are less aware of the emotions in their stomach and instead may be experiencing stressful or negative thoughts that later cause their IBS symptoms. This is where **therapy**, particularly **Hypnotherapy** and **NLP**, can offer valuable insight and tools for addressing the root emotional causes of IBS. Sessions are available in **Hertfordshire**, **St Albans**, **Hemel Hempstead**, **North London**, and **online via Zoom**.
The best way to pinpoint what causes the symptoms of IBS is to use a diary. Over two weeks, the client will be asked to write down everything that they eat and drink and at what time. This diary should also include the times when the IBS symptoms are experienced.
This will help the **therapist** to highlight and discuss with the client any apparent links between the foods in the food diary and the occurrence of the IBS symptoms. If there are no evident links, the therapist can also begin to explore recurring emotions and the circumstances that create these. Techniques can then be used to deal with these negative emotions, and techniques for relaxation to combat stress can be taught to the client. **Hypnotherapy** can also offer clients suggestions for healing and eating more healthily in the future 🥦💧.
Combining **NLP**, **Hypnotherapy**, and lifestyle support offers a powerful and personalised approach to managing IBS. By working with a trained professional in **therapy**, clients can begin to feel more in control of their body and their emotional responses, creating a healthier, more balanced life.
By Gemma Bailey
North London & Hertfordshire Clinical Hypnosis & NLP Sessions with Qualified and Insured Professional Therapists to quite smoking depression & anxiety
