The Connection Between IBS And Anxiety

Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant
Updated February 29, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Anxiety is usually a condition that affects you mentally, but it can also have physical symptoms. For instance, some people who have anxiety and IBS have noticed the two seem to be correlated, with IBS symptoms flaring up during times of stress. If you’ve noticed that your IBS symptoms seem to occur in response to elevated anxiety, then addressing the root of the anxiety may offer relief. A good way to get started may be to work with a therapist in person or online.

Anxiety often has physical symptoms

What is IBS?

IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome, sometimes referred to as spastic colon, and it tends to be a relatively common medical condition that usually affects the lower intestine. Its most common signs can include constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramping. However, these symptoms can occur without the person having IBS, so you'll usually need to get a diagnosis from a doctor to determine whether or not you have it. Generally speaking, if these problems are chronic, you should seek the opinion of a medical professional. 

The cause of IBS is not yet entirely known. There seems to be a physical element, but a mental or psychological factor may be possible as well. The management of diet and lifestyle choices typically helps to control IBS, while others who have it may benefit from therapy and medication. It appears stress can play a part in IBS flare-ups, however. 

Severe signs and symptoms

While gas and abdominal cramping tend to be the most common signs of IBS, there are sometimes more severe symptoms that indicate you might be experiencing something else, like colon cancer. If you have weight loss, rectal bleeding, or persistent diarrhea at night, that might be something other than IBS. The same may be true if you're experiencing anemia, difficulty swallowing, unexplained vomiting, or frequent gastrointestinal pain that is not relieved by a bowel movement. Any of these might be something other than IBS, so be sure to consult your doctor if you’re experiencing them.

Tests for IBS

In general, there is no single test that proves you have IBS, so it can be a bit challenging to diagnose. Your doctor might give you a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which generally involves an examination of the lower part of the colon with a camera attached to a flexible tube. They might opt for a colonoscopy, where they look at the entire length of your colon with a small, flexible tube. They might also try a CT scan or an X-ray of your pelvis and abdomen. If none of these tests reveals anything definitive, then your doctor may also want to do a stool test, an upper endoscopy, or a breath test for bacterial overgrowth.

Changing your diet can yield good results

Some individuals who are diagnosed with IBS see positive results after changing their diets. High-fat foods tend to be among the worst for people living with IBS because they’re usually difficult to digest. Foods that are higher in fiber are normally the ones that move through your system easiest, so a diet that's packed with soluble fiber is often recommended. A low-fat, high-fiber diet is usually better for your heart as well.

The best changes in diet that you can make for IBS are typically to incorporate foods like green, leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Eating lean meats like chicken and turkey can also be a good idea. Try to stay away from highly processed foods and drink lots of water. You'll likely experience fewer IBS symptoms if you make these changes and stick with them.

Exercise and sleep can help

Some people with IBS report that if they start getting the full recommended eight hours of sleep, they experience fewer symptoms. Others say that when they began an exercise program, they had less of a problem with IBS. If you have insomnia and this seems to relate to your IBS, speak to your doctor about it. If it's possible for you to take up an exercise program, then you should do that as well. Both of these may get you in better shape physically, and they should have a positive impact on your life, even apart from the reduction in IBS symptoms.

What is the link between IBS and anxiety?

Apart from your diet, exercise, and sleep schedule, trying to remove or reduce stress from your life seems to have something to do with IBS management. This suggests that the condition may not be purely physical. For instance, some people have severe IBS symptoms if they're in a high-pressure situation at work. Maybe you're afraid of flying, and you always experience symptoms when you're about to go on a plane. Perhaps if you don't like your relatives, then you'll feel some aspect of the condition at family reunions or when you talk to family members on the phone.

Eliminating the primary sources of anxiety from your life can help you gain control over IBS symptoms. If you only have symptoms when you go to your job, consider a change in employment or even a new career. If being around certain people is what brings on a bout of IBS, you might consider spending less time with them. It’s often fascinating to see how the body can manifest physical problems as a way of alerting you that stress and anxiety are disrupting your internal functions, and IBS seems to be a prime example of that.

Deep-seated traumas

It's possible that your anxiety and IBS might not only stem from current stresses in your life. Some therapists believe that deep-seated childhood traumas can continue to affect us to this day, and these might manifest themselves as IBS or other physical ailments. If IBS continues to be a problem for you, then you may want to participate in some psychological exploration. At the least, you should be able to get some closure as it relates to past issues, feelings of pain, or anxiety that you've held onto since you were young.

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Anxiety often has physical symptoms

Medication for IBS

There are also numerous medications that you can take for IBS in more severe cases that should help with the condition. It’s always best to speak to your doctor before trying any kind of medication or supplement.

Therapy for IBS and anxiety

If IBS is wreaking havoc on your life, then it can be helpful to examine all aspects of your daily existence to determine the steps you can take to relieve it. You may benefit from therapy in addition to diet and lifestyle changes. The elimination of stress through regular therapy sessions may be helpful. Most people who have IBS notice an extreme reduction of symptoms when they eliminate the factors in their life that make them anxious.

Research has found that online therapy, such as through BetterHelp, can be just as effective as in-person therapy. Internet-based CBT can significantly decrease feelings of anxiety, and the benefits of online therapy were typically found to continue over the long term. 

Online therapy may also have added benefits, such as being able to meet with a therapist from the comfort of your own home, having a larger pool of therapists to choose from, and being able to connect with your therapist at the time that’s best for you. 

Takeaway

It can be life-changing to determine what's causing your IBS and take the needed steps to relieve it. If you’ve picked up on a potential correlation between anxiety levels and IBS symptoms, then treating your anxiety may result in IBS relief as well. You can get started by connecting with a licensed therapist online or in your local area.
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