The other list of side effects nobody talks about
So, you have IBS (C, D, EFG). You didn’t even take a test or received much explanation, but based on concerns you have voiced, you have been put in the dreaded “IBS Box”. Chances are, you may have been told this is caused by “stress”. Gee, thanks for narrowing that down. The truth is we can drive ourselves crazy trying to figure out the chicken or the egg when it comes to IBS. Is IBS the reason you’re stressed? Or you stressed because you have IBS? While two things can be true, it may help to know that many of the things you are experiencing on the emotional front is in fact extremely common and should not be ignored. To get a clearer picture of how IBS affects us emotionally, let’s get some basics down.
- What is IBS?
At its most simplistic terms, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a group of gastrointestinal symptoms that can range from minor annoyance to downright debilitating. This is including but not limited to:
- Cramps
- Bloating
- Gas
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation (IBS-C)
- Diarrhea (IBS-D)
- Feeling full without eating
As if those things aren’t enough to deal with, there is a myriad of emotional symptoms that many experience in conjunction with the physical ones. There is no doubt that IBS affects us emotionally. When our body experiences stress, we are disturbing the homeostasis in our gut, this results in one of two things. Because the brain and the gut are so connected, If the brain is getting overactive signals, it will cause diarrhea and a constant state of feeling the need to be always close to a bathroom. On the contrary, if there is underactive signaling to the brain, we are inclined to slow digestion, which creates longer evacuation times leading to constipation. Some people can go days or weeks without a single bowel movement as it builds up gas and fermented waste that has no way out.
No matter what side of the spectrum you lie on, you are likely to experience some or many of the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Fatigue
- Brain Fog
- Poor Quality of Life
- Withdrawal From Social Events
The brain and gut communicate through the nervous system and digestive system. Serotonin is made mostly in the gut, so when there is a disruption of this production, our brain is not receiving this extremely important neurotransmitter. It can only be expected that these emotions would be experienced and maybe even overtake the physical effects.
Contrary to popular belief, IBS is not something you are destined to deal with for the rest of your life. The fact that IBS affects us emotionally does not mean it can’t be controlled. Getting to the root cause (chicken, egg) is the first step to getting to the other side. There are many lifestyle changes and non-prescription based paths that Red String Wellness offers to our clients to achieve relief and reprieve from IBS.