In my extensive research on IBS, I’ve come across all kinds of information and claims on the topic. The cause of IBS seems especially debated, some doctors agreeing with me in that stress can cause IBS, while others believing stress has nothing to do with it.
The title of this post is an argument made by a doctor against the idea that stress causes IBS. He felt that stress makes everything worse, so if you have IBS, the symptoms just get worse when you are stressed out, just like how all your health issues would.
I agree that stress makes everything worse. But I do believe stress can also cause IBS.
In short:
- There is much evidence to show that a large proportion of people with IBS have trauma in their past (extreme stress)
- The IBS diagnosis was made right after a period of severe stress in many, if not most, cases. I’ve seen this with my clients time and again.
- Stress can lead to all the classic IBS symptoms. This is a fact.
Furthermore, scientists agree that stress can cause a whole host of symptoms, NOT ONLY digestive problems and all the classic IBS symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain, but also headaches, muscle tension, hives, high blood pressure, dizziness….
Everyone has stress (at least sometimes), then why doesn’t everyone have IBS?
It’s a matter of stress manifesting in different ways in different people. I don’t know why someone gets migraines from stress and someone else horrendous bloating, it’s probably a sum of many things that are different between individuals.
It seems most of us have experienced gut symptoms from stressful episodes, especially when feeling nervous from having to perform in front of people, be it a speech or a sports competition. Me included! The symptoms just don’t reach the severity or frequency to qualify for an official IBS diagnosis every time.
"Everyone has IBS"
I recently chatted with a gastropsychologist (a psychologist specializing in IBS and other digestive disorders), and it was her thought that “everyone has IBS”. It's an interesting way to think of it, and essentially it speaks to the stress reaction being a universal mechanism. Then, if stress is severe enough and passes a certain individual threshold, everyone will get GI symptoms of some kind!
So, don’t believe when someone even of authority says that stress doesn’t cause IBS. Sure, there are many things at play, and stress might not be the only ingredient needed to “make” IBS, but to say it has no role at all in IBS to me is impossible.
If you are serious about taking charge of your IBS, talk to me. I offer free 30-minute consultations (no strings attached!) to give you a chance to talk to an expert about your situation. You’ll gain valuable advice on your next steps toward IBS freedom, and a chance to have expert guidance going forward, if you so choose.
How are your stress levels these days? It’s hard to remain centered in this tumultuous world!
Love,
Anna-Kaisa
PS. Did you download my free “5 Easy Ways to Beat the Bloat” -ebook yet? Go here to get it!
