As distressing and uncomfortable as IBS can be, you can overcome it with The Thrive Programme®

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is now one of the most common problems of the digestive system: it is estimated that up to one in five people in the UK have occasional symptoms. It causes pain in the abdomen and an altered bowel habit. Although IBS poses no serious threat to health, it can have an adverse effect on a person's quality of life.

Due to the pain, discomfort and embarrassment that are often associated with IBS, some people also experience feelings of anxiety and depression and they may be reluctant to leave their home for fear of the symptoms appearing.

There are different types of IBS, depending on your main symptom. It is known by a variety of other names, including spastic colon, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, nervous diarrhoea, nervous colon and nervous bowel. IBS is twice as common in women as it is in men.

How stress causes irritable bowel syndrome

How you think and feel can have an important effect on your body. The mind and the body are inextricably linked. Psychological factors play a big role in triggering IBS and symptoms are almost always worse when you are under stress. When you are feeling stressed or depressed your body undergoes changes and these changes can affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms of IBS worse. Additionally, the fear and potential embarrassment of having IBS symptoms around others  can add to your stress levels, compounding the problem further.