Ask about irritable bowel syndrome

Comments

• Owen Smithyman

  May 26

  I would also like to know this. We are told not to work with clients who have bad gut health issues because it's difficult to tell whether a symptom is caused by the physical gut problem or by trauma. In theory, there is a trauma-based reason why our body wants to have the gut problem, but I'm not sure how you would diagnose it, other than basic things like asking "what if I didn't have this gut problem?" and sensing your emotional reaction and tapping on that, looking for grandparents who have the same gut problem, or healing associations with the physical or emotional feeling of the gut problem. It's also possible that some symptoms that feel like IBS are actually just traumas, and you could heal them.
• DrMary

  May 26

  IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a common digestive disorder that affects how the gut works. Before this diagnosis is made other conditions that cause visible damage or structural changes to the bowel (like inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or colon cancer) are generally ruled out. Conventional medicine consider it a "functional" condition — meaning the gut looks normal on tests, but it doesn't work the way it should.

  It is diagnosed not with a blood test or x-ray but by using a set of criteria - the Rome IV criteria which is outline below straight from the Rome Foundation website. Besides these general criteria there are criteria for the various subtypes of IBS

  "C1. IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

  Diagnostic criteria*

  Recurrent abdominal pain on average at least 1 day/week in the last 3 months, associated with two or more of the following criteria:

  1. Related to defecation
  2. Associated with a change in frequency of stool
  3. Associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool
     
     

  *Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior to diagnosis"

  Rome IV Criteria | The Rome Foundation

  Treatment focuses on managing symptoms rather than curing an underlying disease. Common approaches include dietary changes (like a low-FODMAP diet), stress management, fiber supplements, medications for diarrhea or constipation, and sometimes low-dose antidepressants, which can calm the gut-brain connection.

  From an alternative/complementary approach I like the work of Jini Patel Thompson who's work in helping people with various bowel disorders (including IBS) comes out of her own journey of pain living with and recovery from Crohn's disease.
  Listen To Your Gut - Jini Patel Thompson
  
  

  I am not aware of any systematic research on IBS done at ISPS. Although individual peak state practitioners may have their own stories or those of clients they have helped. If so perhaps they will chime in.

  Assuming Reda & Owen that you have consulted a health care practitioner and been diagnosed with IBS and other possible causes of your GI symptoms are ruled out, I think using the Psychobiology framework to work on symptoms is fine.

  Off the top of my head (and not having worked with any cases), would start with BAs on each of your specific symptoms.
  Next I would use the chronic pain protocol and tune into how you feel about these symptoms (pain, constipation, diarrhea) then heal the associated biographical or generational trauma that comes up.
  
  I highly recommend Kisten's presentation on "Treating pain using psychobiology"
  Treating pain using psychobiology, by Kirsten Lykkegaard DVM PhD
  
  I'm interested to hear other perspectives.