Paul Marro

Stress in both its positively and negatively orientated forms is a part of our normal day-to-day existence as human beings, and we have evolved to use stress as a way of helping us to survive and thrive in what we perceive to be challenging circumstances, whether we choose to undertake those challenges ourselves as a way of developing in some way, or if they are inflicted on us from outside.

However the human body and mind are designed to be in stressful situations only for brief periods while we escape or fight the threat in question, or rise up to meet the challenge and attempt to achieve our goal.  Exposure to stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol over extended periods of time, even at low levels, can lead onto a wide range of other issues such as IBS, anxiety / panic attacks, sleep and memory issues, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Our gastrointestinal system has been likened to a second minature brain in our bodies that contains around 100 million of the same neurons that make up the brains in our head (which latest estimates suggest contain around 80 billion neurons). This makes sense as the more primitive gut "brain" was probably the first on the scene in evolutionary terms. These two brains still communicate with each other today, hence why our perception of something that makes us anxious can often cause bowel issues such as the urgent need to defecate, and ultimately conditions such as IBS.

With Cognitive Hypnotherapy we have a vast range of research-proven tools and techniques that are skilfully weaved together to quickly and uniquely target the individual subconscious patterns every patient arrives with, thereby treating stress and IBS and their associated complications effectively.

Physically some IBS patients also benefit from nutritional or dietary modifications and interventions, as might some with stress e.g. quitting caffiene, reducing sugar and refined carbs, increasing moderate but regular exercise, and eliminating food intolerances etc.