Can anxiety and stress cause IBS?

Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Carl in San Francisco. Can anxiety and stress cause IBS?

It was once believed that irritable bowel syndrome or IBS was a gut problem of the elderly, but it’s apparent in our modern times children and young people are also affected. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain and discomfort, nausea, headaches, belching, bladder problems, as well as diarrhea or constipation.

Symptoms can often be eased with treatment and diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome involves excluding foods and stress which produce IBS like symptoms. Things such a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, parasitic infections, as well as lactose intolerance, also have to be ruled out.

There is no cure for IBS, but there are a number of effective treatments for relieving the symptoms and these may include dietary adjustments and medication. People who suffer ongoing fatigue and pain stay away from work and this leads to conflict and anxiety.

Can anxiety and stress cause IBS? A professor of psychology, Edward Blanchard, State University of New York at Albany says that the most common mental ailments suffered by people with IBS is generalized anxiety disorder or GAD.

Stress management can certainly help to ease IBS symptoms and coping mechanisms such as relaxation techniques, which include deep breathing and yoga are effective for treating IBS along with regular exercise and a good diet.

If you feel overwhelmed, psychological help involving behavioral therapy and traditional psychotherapy can be all the support and courage that you need to succeed in being more relaxed and controlling the many ailments that stress causes.