IBS…is it by food or mental health?

[Lookingforhelp05]

As someone who is suffering from IBS and is wanting to recover. How do I as a person know if it’s caused by foods or stress, lack of sleep and even anxiety? Sometimes I feel like I can eat a certain food and it’s okay then I eat it again the next week and I feel bad. So is it really just a mind battle between my stomach and brain?

[XDjames]

Well it certainly does my head in so there is a mind battle of sorts, but not in a way that I can control IBS.

Lack of sleep doesn't help but is likely an effect not a cause; IBS can wreak havoc on sleep.

Anxiety maybe, there are ways to reduce that eg.g. the Nerva app that many folk win this community like.

Food for sure. There's the low FODMAP -with reintroduction- diet. Then there are food that for sure trigger you and you probably steer clear of in future. You can keep a diary of what you eat and the results and you may, just may, see correlations, but there are so many other things going on that it's difficult to see those and you may end up overly restricting your diet.

Search XJRS posts -they are pretty useful and full of good info.

[xjrs in reply to XDjames]

Thanks XDjames .

[alby54]

I was diagnosed with IBS back in about 1995. Initially it seemed to be food related, but now I'm sure it is stress and anxiety based. But I guess it is different for every sufferer. I have considered trying Nerva, but would like some feedback before trying. Maybe try meditation if you can?

[xjrs]

Here's my research into origins of IBS symptoms:

Some factors may make someone more prone to IBS:

- Physiological. For example, someone born with an extra long, loopy colon may experience IBS-C (constipation dominant IBS) type symptoms. This is because stool has a longer to travel, meaning that there is more time for the body to extract water from stools, making them hard and more difficult to pass.

- Psychological. For instance, genetically being a highly sensitive person (HSP) may have links with IBS.

- Early life experience. Women with severe functional gastrointestinal disorders including IBS often have a history of sexual and/or emotional abuse. This is as high as 30% in those attending gastroenterology clinics. Trauma from abuse can cause changes in brain chemistry which can impact gut motility as well as distort pain recognition. These changes include:

- relatively higher levels of norepinephrine (noradrenaline) which may lead to a state of hyperarousal or hypervigilance

- relatively lower levels of serotonin which regulates mood

- dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system which controls reactions to stress

- Current social stresses

It is often combination of psychological factors and sensitisation of the gut after infection that can trigger irritable bowel syndrome in adults.

In fact, whilst the majority of patients suffering from gastroenteritis (the infection and inflammation of the digestive system) recover, 10% will develop IBS symptoms.

There may be both genetic and environmental factors that lead to IBS i.e. one person experiencing food poisoning who has a genetic predisposition to IBS will develop IBS, but another person without the genetic predisposition may not.

In a lot of cases it is the body's overreaction to certain foods (treating the food as an enemy) that is the cause - however, this overreaction can be due to a gut bacterial imbalance either from a poor diet (so the microbiome is in bad shape) or from a gut infection (either viral or from food poisoning) with bad bugs oversensisting nerves in the gut making them react to certain foods.

[angelwings52]

I'd keep a detailed food diary of everything (including drinks, chewing gum etc as these can be missed), and note down any daily stresses or issues - that really helped me. And I can't recommend hypnotherapy enough, either with a hypnotherapist or an app like Nerva. There is a really good link between the gut and the brain (more neurones in the gut than the brain!) I had a lot of stress related flare ups but after hypnotherapy these stopped. I do react to foods that I usually can eat occasionally but there are usually other reasons such as warmer weather, different brands, cooking techniques and in my case hormonal issues. Planning ahead can help ease any worries of flare ups, e.g. I always carry loperimide when I go out. You could try seeing a dietician about trying the Fodmap diet as that can help.

[Droidus]

I’ve had IBS for over 23 years, I’m sure as a child I had it too, I just never realised what it was. My childhood was pretty stressful, also we ate a lot of processed foods at times.

Mine personally, I know for sure certain foods do definitely set me off. I always know a bad boubt is coming as my gums and mouth become really sensitive, it burns like fire to simply brush my teeth when a bad bout is coming. I still don’t fully understand it after more than 2 decades.

My mental health too has impacted it or maybe IBS impacted my mental health, who knows. It isn’t easy living with IBS, people treating it as if it’s made up or something you manifest yourself, as if you enjoy it.

The only time in my life that IBS has been manageable for myself was the ketogenic diet, it meant stopping all grains, flours and carbs were cut out. Moving from pastries, cereals, grains, rice, pasta, all foods that once made life unbearable due to pain, exhaustion and umpteen toilet rushes per day, reduced immensely. Im currently transitioning back to keto. The beauty of keto is the clarification of the mind, it’s incredible. Im not saying it’s a cure for all, but it certainly made my life a whole lot better. Don’t get me wrong things on keto can and do trigger bouts, for instance xylitol does trigger me slightly, as does flax and other grain substitutes. But nothing like gluten, cereals, and other everyday foods.

The other downside to keto is, if you don’t get enough fibre, constipation is ugly! It’s finding the balance that works for you. Mine is celeriac, that clears me out without leaving much behind ( sorry if that TMI ) There are so many things one can do to de stress , or reduce the levels. It’s about finding what works for you, maybe avoiding people, places. I have found gardening helps myself both mentally and physically, def well being upstairs no doubt. Crafting, sewing for me is almost like meditating. Reading, painting, again, what works for one might not work for another.

Sleep can be disrupted by both mental health and IBS working in unison, I wish there was a simple answer, but there isn’t. Finding this place has made me feel normal, I suffered almost alone before. My husband is great always has been, I’ve been very lucky. Sadly though, the same can’t be said for family and friends, it’s been better to suffer in silence than provoke their distain or idiotic advice, which usually involves some form of “ think it away, it’s all in the mind “

Hopefully you have a good network around you, people supporting you. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

[Rabbit2632]

Accept Jesus into your life and pray continuously and turn your life to Christ will really ease your mind and symptoms. I pray everyday and find my entire life being so much happier and healthier.