Digestive Issues & Anxiety: Could Psychotherapy be Helpful?
Do you experience some type of chronic stomach distress or digestive issue, such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, etc.? Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common diagnosis for people experiencing these types of symptoms. In fact, according to the American College of Gastroenterology, 10-15% of Americans have been diagnosed with IBS.
While there is a common understanding that “stress” can exacerbate IBS, the correlation between anxiety and chronic stomach distress has been historically unclear or underestimated.
Research confirms that IBS is a “heterogeneous disorder caused by numerous psychological, immunological, infectious, endocrine and genetic factors” (Popa and Dumitrascu, 2015). This unknown etiology can be frustrating, as it can leave the best treatment plan equally unclear.
In 2015, Stefan-Lucian Popa and Dan Lucian Dumitrascu conducted a comparative analysis of articles published across a ten year time span detailing the relationship between anxiety and IBS. They note that the total number of studies examining the correlation between anxiety and IBS “considerably increased” from 2005 to 2015. These findings indicate an increased emphasis within the scientific community on the connection between emotional health and physical health. While our western society often considers our emotional and physical systems to be separate entities, research is beginning to catch up to the common wisdom that they are inextricably linked.
After aggregating the results from 15 studies, Popa and Dumitrascu conclude that “psychiatric treatment has a positive effect on gastro-intestinal symptomatology” (2015).
These results may seem counterintuitive: “Shouldn’t I be seeing a medical doctor for my physical health symptoms?” While psychotherapy should not be a replacement for appropriate medical treatment and/or consultation with your physician, it can be an effective adjunctive treatment.
Through psychotherapy, many people are able to identify the underlying feelings and factors contributing to their symptoms, as well as lessen the severity of their symptoms.
Therapy can also help you learn how to better manage or prevent flare-ups. If you have been to countless doctors trying various traditional and non-traditional treatments (medications, supplements, acupuncture, etc.) without the change you’re looking for, consider trying psychotherapy as an adjunctive treatment.
Popa, Stefan-Lucian, and Dumitrascu, Dan Lucian. “Anxiety and IBS Revisited: Ten Years Later.” Clujul medical (1957) 88.3 (2015): 253–257.
At SageWell we work closely with physicians and other medical providers to ensure continuity in your care. Contact us to learn more about how psychotherapy could be an appropriate adjunctive treatment for your GI or other physical symptoms.