Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not a new disease but is now being seen more and more in doctor's and therapist's offices. IBS is not life- threatening but it can be debilitating, embarrassing and a nuisance to those who suffer with it. General symptoms of IBS are bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation and abdominal pain. Traditional treatment includes:

* Change in diet
* Anti-spasmodic drugs
* Muscle relaxants
* Stress reduction

Many people suffering with IBS do not want the "drug regimen" and unfortunately the treatment protocol is not effective with everyone with IBS. Even with treatment, people with IBS are often afraid to leave their home for fear of having an embarrassing "accident" at the mall, in the theater, at work or wherever they happen to be and are looking for a treatment plan that works. They become anxious anytime they aren't in close proximity to a rest room and when they are in an area where facilities are absent or can't be easily found they come near to panic.

A therapy called "Gut Directed Hypnotherapy" was developed specifically for those suffering with IBS. Extensive studies demonstrate that symptoms are reduced in 80% of those suffering from IBS and that the improvements lasted long after the completion of treatment using hypnotherapy.

The logical starting place is to work with relaxation and stress reduction - stress is now found to be an underlying culprit of many illnesses in our high stress culture and is definitely in play with IBS. Other areas that need exploration and attention are the connection between life events, thoughts, and feelings and IBS symptoms. In other words, when and why did the IBS start? What were the life circumstances at the time in terms of health, stress, thoughts, attitudes? What is the anxiety level and how can it be reduced? Is perfection in all areas a requirement in the life of the client? What is the level of depression? Of anger? Of seeking approval? Of needing to be right?

A series of weekly hypnotherapy sessions is generally required in the treatment of IBS. The number of sessions depends on many factors: the ability of the client to work in hypnosis, his level of participation in his/her own treatment program, the desire to get well and the ability to come to some resolution of the stresses and traumas of everyday living. Generally the hypnotherapist will give the client CDs or tapes to work with at home in between sessions as well as assignments directed at changing negative thoughts and speech into a more positive orientation.

IBS involves a holistic hypnotherapeutic approach. It is one disease that demonstrates clearly that what affects one part of the human being affects the whole of that being. Emotions, thoughts, physicality, attitudes, and environment - anything that impinges on the client needs to be considered and balance restored.

If you suffer from IBS, you might want to consider hypnotherapy - a scientifically proved treatment modality for this disease.