How does stress affect IBS?
Stress—feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed—stimulates colon spasms in people with IBS. The colon has a vast supply of nerves that connect it to the brain. These nerves control the normal rhythmic contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or “butterflies” when they are nervous or upset. But with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress also makes the mind more tuned to the sensations that arise in the colon and makes the stressed person perceive these sensations as unpleasant. Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is also affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS.
In people with IBS, the intestines seem to be extra sensitive to emotional or physical stress. Their tendency to “overreact” can trigger or worsen the digestive problems of IBS. The better you’re able to manage stress, the more successful you can be in reducing the frequency or severity of your IBS symptoms. Information on stress management techniques is available to people who join the Living Well with IBS program.
How to manage stress What is stress? It is the “wear and tear” your body feels over time as it adjusts to feelings of anxiety, tension, and anger. Stress can trigger intestinal spasms in people with IBS since the GI tract has many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and lungs, the bowel is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress. These nerves control the way the bowel contracts and cause abdominal pain at stressful times. People often feel cramps or ‘butterflies” when they are nervous or upset. In people with IBS, the bowel can be very sensitive to even slight conflict or stress. Learning to cope with stress is part of the treatment for IBS. Here is a list of some of the options to manage stress. This list is to give you ideas that are a fit for you. Some of these options require learning new skills. • Getting enough sleep. • Biofeedback. • Counseling and support groups. • Hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy (offered at UWHC). •
Stress—feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed—can stimulate colon spasms in people with IBS. The colon has many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress. These nerves control the normal contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or “butterflies” when they are nervous or upset. In people with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress makes the mind more aware of the sensations that arise in the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as unpleasant. Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS.
Stressfeeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmedcan stimulate colon spasms in people with IBS. The colon has many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress. These nerves control the normal contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or butterflies when they are nervous or upset. In people with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress makes the mind more aware of the sensations that arise in the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as unpleasant. Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS.
