Our mental health is connected to a lot of things, but it is perhaps most connected to the gut. How we feel can directly affect how our gut works, and few places is that as apparent as with anxiety induced irritable bowel syndrome.
Anxiety-induced Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) occurs when psychological stress and anxiety contribute to or worsen digestive issues such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, meaning that it stems from a disruption in how the brain and digestive system communicate rather than a structural issue within the gut itself.
Because the gut and brain are closely connected through the gut-brain axis, psychological factors like anxiety and stress can increase gut sensitivity and disrupt normal digestive function. As a result, rather than address the gut directly, many people look to therapy for anxiety to help them reduce their IBS symptoms.
But how (and why) does therapy help improve IBS? What is the effect of therapy on anxiety and the gut?
How Therapy Improves Anxiety-Induced IBS
To understand how therapy can improve IBS symptoms, it is helpful to first understand how anxiety can create IBS in the first place. While not everyone with anxiety gets IBS, the stress from anxiety can lead to:
- Slower/speeding up of gut mobility.
- Increased sensitivity to specific foods and nutrients.
- Inflammation that affects the gut and gut lining.
These issues can lead to stomach challenges, opening the door for hurried bathroom breaks and stomach discomfort.
Now, even in situations where anxiety is the primary trigger, IBS is more complex. Diet can still play a role, as can sleep and other lifestyle issues. But typically, therapy is used to help manage anxiety-induced IBS because it addresses both the mental and physical aspects of the condition. By treating the psychological stress that contributes to IBS, therapy helps calm the nervous system, reduce gut sensitivity, and improve digestive function.
One of the primary benefits of therapy is its ability to reduce the heightened stress response that contributes to gut dysfunction. When a person experiences anxiety, the body’s fight-or-flight response is activated, increasing the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This can lead to increased gut motility, muscle tension, and heightened sensitivity to pain – all of which worsen IBS symptoms. Therapy helps regulate this stress response, allowing the digestive system to function more normally.
Therapy also helps individuals reframe how they perceive IBS symptoms. Anxiety often causes individuals to over-monitor and overreact to normal digestive sensations, making them feel more intense or painful than they actually are. Through therapy, individuals learn to reduce this hypervigilance, which can lower pain perception and improve gut comfort.
Emotional processing is another key benefit of therapy for IBS. Stress and anxiety are often linked to unresolved emotional conflicts or negative thought patterns. Therapy provides a structured way to process these emotions, helping individuals feel more in control of their mental and physical health. As emotional resilience improves, IBS symptoms tend to become less severe and less frequent.
Therapy also helps develop healthier coping mechanisms for managing stress and gut discomfort. Relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, and stress reduction strategies learned through therapy can prevent the stress response from escalating and worsening digestive issues. By improving emotional and behavioral responses to stress, therapy creates a more balanced gut-brain relationship, reducing the likelihood of IBS flare-ups.
Long-Term Benefits of Therapy for IBS
The effects of therapy on IBS symptoms are often long-lasting. Studies have shown that individuals who complete therapy for anxiety-induced IBS experience continued symptom improvement for months or even years after treatment ends. This is because therapy helps “retrain” the gut-brain connection, making the body less reactive to stress and more capable of maintaining digestive balance.
Individuals who benefit most from therapy are those who experience significant stress-related symptom patterns, such as IBS flare-ups during periods of anxiety or emotional distress. By addressing the root cause of these patterns, therapy helps improve overall digestive health and psychological well-being.
Supporting Gut and Mental Health Through Therapy
Therapy provides an effective, long-term solution for managing anxiety-induced IBS by addressing the psychological and physiological factors behind the condition. By improving emotional regulation, reducing stress responses, and changing how the brain processes digestive signals, therapy helps individuals gain control over their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.
If you’re struggling with IBS, or anxiety, or you simply need a therapist to talk to, please reach out to Jung Psych Services today. I’d love to connect with you, learn more about your symptoms, and help you get the support you need to life your best life.