In conjunction with other therapies, hypnosis has been found to be an effective treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A typical course of hypnotherapy treatment tends to be short, with clients attending 60-minute sessions weekly over the course of anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The hypnotherapist guides you into a deeply relaxed state of highly focused awareness to affect change.
Central Concepts of Hypnotherapy
One of the most important concepts of hypnotherapy is that the mind includes both conscious and subconscious parts.1These two parts work together to help us navigate through daily life. The subconscious mind contains all of our memories, beliefs, habitual patterns, and past learnings, but mistaken beliefs and counter-productive habits get “stuck,” which can give rise to a variety of adverse conditions.
In the state of hypnosis, when the subconscious mind is more active and accessible, the hypnotherapist’s aim is to help the person resolve the issues that have become problematic. Through relaxation, guided imagery, positive hypnotic suggestions, and other methods unwanted habits, beliefs, behaviors, and even physical symptoms can be reprogrammed into more positive ones.
Who Is Hypnotherapy Right For?
To determine if hypnosis is suitable for a particular person, a series of suggestibility tests may be administered by the therapist. However, a recent study on standardized methods for testing suggestibility showed these methods to be highly subjective.2 If you’ve decided on hypnosis treatment, there are two ways to increase the chances of achieving successful results: managing expectations and pre-session preparation.
Managing Expectations
Some people come seeking hypnosis treatment with expectations and preconceived notions about what hypnotherapy is. This can inhibit the success of the treatment, making it important to manage your expectations.
Pre-Session Preparation
In the 1960s, pioneering hypnotist Dave Elman observed that his patients would achieve deeper levels of hypnosis the more often they experienced it.3 Many therapists today provide pre-session hypnosis “training” for this very reason. The training may be in the form of reading scripts aloud or listening to recordings of hypnotic inductions before the session. In this context, it can be helpful to view hypnosis as a skill to be learned vs. a treatment to undergo.
How Can Hypnotherapy Help Someone With IBS?
When issues related to IBS like anxiety, stress, and early childhood trauma are addressed during the course of hypnotherapy, IBS symptoms often naturally subside.5 However, before a person decides to receive hypnosis for IBS, they should consult with a gastroenterologist or primary care physician to rule out other diagnoses.
Symptoms of IBS
IBS can severely affect a person’s quality of life. Unmanaged, it has been shown to contribute to various mental and physical health issues.4
Here are seven symptoms and health issues related to IBS:
- Abdominal pain, cramping, or bloating
- Weight loss
- Rectal bleeding
- Unexplained vomiting
- Diarrhea at night
- Depression
- Anxiety
People with IBS can suffer from symptoms for years before seeking help. Even when they finally receive a diagnosis, there are still few medical and pharmacological options for treating their condition.
Techniques for Treating IBS With Hypnosis
Techniques for treating IBS with hypnosis focus on physical and mental relaxation. Hypnotherapy can also be an effective way to manage the stress often associated with IBS while developing good self-care habits that promote overall health and well-being.
Three hypnotherapeutic techniques for treating IBS include:
- Relaxation: Through mindfulness, focused awareness, and soothing suggestions, a person is able to release tension and stress. Once physical relaxation is achieved, mental relaxation comes more easily. Through this process, the symptoms of stress associated with IBS are often greatly reduced, allowing any therapeutic work to begin.
- Boosting confidence: Chronic conditions such as IBS can leave people feeling depressed and unsure about themselves. With the use of hypnotic suggestion, reframing, and right-sizing, people can boost their confidence and create an expectation of success.6
- Pain reduction hypnosis: This technique relies on the strong connection between body and mind. In the highly suggestible state of hypnosis, a person can alter their perceptions of pain. A common visualization technique is to imagine controlling the intensity of the pain with a dial or knob.
In addition to these techniques, many hypnotherapists will suggest various self-management tools to deal with IBS symptoms as they may occur in the future. These can include instructions for self-hypnosis, deep breathing exercises, and self-guided relaxation meditations.
Example of Hypnosis for IBS
A typical course of hypnosis treatment for IBS will include an initial assessment, several hypnosis sessions, and follow-up and support. As IBS can be a serious medical and mental health issue, a therapist will likely ask about past or current treatments during the initial assessment so they can coordinate with other providers as needed.
Initial Assessment
Some other areas that may be explored before treatment begins include:
- Identifying what triggers stress responses in the mind and body
- Clearly noting all the physical and emotional symptoms that signal oncoming symptoms, including mental images, inner dialog, looping thoughts, and physical sensations<
- Identifying culprit foods and creating a diet plan that avoids them
- Clarifying the person’s desired outcome from the treatment (e.g., feeling relaxed, at peace, and at ease during situations that used to trigger stress)
Using this information, the therapist will work with you to create a plan of treatment that will best support the lessening or elimination of IBS symptoms.
Hypnosis Sessions
The number of sessions needed will vary from person to person. Some people experience satisfying results after one or two sessions while others benefit from a longer program of treatment. During the first session, the therapist will induce the hypnotic trance, guiding the person into a state of deep relaxation and focused awareness.
Then, they can employ various techniques to relieve the symptoms as well as address the underlying causes of IBS symptoms:
Hypnotic Suggestion
While in hypnosis, a person is more amenable to accepting and implementing positive suggestions. These can be especially supportive for creating and maintaining healthy changes in diet and exercise habits.
Anchoring
Anchoring is a technique that effectively teaches a person how to create their own positive triggers for more desirable outcomes. While in trance, a person will be guided into a state where they feel relaxed, safe, and at ease. They will then be instructed to create an “anchor” to those feelings. This can be a phrase, a specific place, or a physical gesture such as pressing the thumb and forefinger together.
Memory Regression
IBS can have sources in childhood trauma. In hypnosis, it is possible to revisit those memories with all the resources and experience of an adult. For example, a person who is anxious or phobic around dogs may remember they were bitten by a dog as a child. In the trance state, they can re-experience the event with the full knowledge that they survived and are now more capable of protecting themselves.
Is Hypnotherapy Effective For IBS?
In many studies, hypnosis has been shown to be over 80% effective in providing long-term relief to IBS patients. In a 2002 study, patients with severe irritable bowel syndrome received seven biweekly hypnosis sessions and used hypnosis audio tapes at home. All central IBS symptoms improved substantially from treatment in both studies. It concluded that hypnosis is an effective treatment for IBS.7
Other Studies On Hypnotherapy for IBS
One meta analysis concluded that hypnosis has substantial therapeutic impact on IBS, even for patients unresponsive to standard medical interventions. The median response rate to hypnosis treatment was 87%. Bowel symptoms improved by about half, while psychological symptoms and life functioning improved after treatment. In addition, therapeutic gains were well maintained for most patients for years after the end of treatment.8
A 2015 meta analysis of 35 studies, including 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), also found that hypnotherapy is highly effective for treating IBS. Seven out of 10 RCTs in adults and all three RCTs in pediatric patient samples found superior outcomes for hypnosis compared to control groups. It concluded that hypnosis treatment is highly efficacious in reducing bowel symptoms and can offer lasting and substantial symptom relief for a large proportion of patients who do not respond adequately to usual medical treatment approaches.9
A 2006 study tested a 3-month home-treatment version of a scripted hypnosis protocol previously shown to improve all central IBS symptoms in individual treatment settings. It was completed by 19 IBS patients. Outcomes were compared to 57 IBS patients from a separate study who received only standard medical care. 53% of the hypnosis patients responded to treatment by a 3-month follow-up vs. 26% of controls. The hypnosis subjects also improved more in quality of life scores compared to controls. Hypnosis responders reported improved symptoms at a 6-month follow-up.10
How to Find a Hypnotherapist to Help You With IBS
If you have health insurance, ask them to provide a list of hypnotherapy specialists in-network. You could also ask your primary care physician (PCP) or a general practitioner for a recommendation. As a result of its popularity, hypnotherapy is fairly accessible. However, finding the right hypnotherapist for your specific needs requires a certain level of personal knowledge. Equally as important is the initial consultation itself, and the questions you ask during that consultation.
Gather Knowledge
Read articles and books, watch YouTube videos, and listen to podcasts about hypnotherapy. A little knowledge goes a long way when it comes to making decisions about your health and well-being.
Take Advantage of Free Consultations
Meet a number of therapists and compare their services. Ask yourself, do you feel comfortable sharing your issues with this person, do they seem to have empathy for you, and do you feel like you have good rapport?
Ask Questions
Treat your initial consultation like a job interview. Ask them about their experience with helping people with IBS. What kind of success have they had with other clients with issues like yours? Do they offer any additional support before and after your sessions? What kinds of clients and issues do they most want to work with?
Pros & Cons of Hypnotherapy For IBS
The pros to receiving hypnosis for IBS include that it’s considered a natural treatment, can offer immediate relief from stress symptoms, and can even resolve underlying issues. The cons are results can vary, there is no one set of governing standards, and most insurance companies do not cover it.
The Pros of Hypnotherapy For IBS
All Natural
Hypnosis is a natural state of mental and physical relaxation that does not rely on pharmaceutical treatments. Medications for stress and anxiety that are sometimes prescribed for IBS can cause unpleasant and even serious side-effects such as sleep disturbances, sexual side-effects, and dependence.
Fast Acting
By calming and relaxing the body and mind through hypnotherapy treatment, feelings of stress naturally subside, and people often find immediate relief from stress symptoms associated with IBS. Even if they return after a session, they can be treated again as needed with hypnotic techniques such as focused breathing, progressive relaxation, and anchoring.
Can Resolve Underlying Issues
IBS can have roots in past experiences, including major or minor traumas from accidents, injuries, or abuse. Depending on the issue, hypnosis alone or as an adjunct treatment can help the person find psychological resolution for the underlying causes of stress.
The Cons of Hypnotherapy for IBS
Results Vary
Although the person-centered approach of hypnotherapy can be a great advantage to many people, it means that sometimes the treatment will be more or less effective. As a result, a person may have to seek out more than one hypnotherapist if they are not satisfied with the initial outcome.
Standards
There is not one set of standards that govern the profession of hypnotherapy. As a result, the services and treatments provided by hypnotists may vary. Nonetheless, most practitioners do adhere to some kind of ethical and professional standards. Make sure that your hypnotherapist belongs to a reputable trade organization such as the National Guild of Hypnotists.
Insurance
Many insurance companies do not cover hypnosis treatment which can result in out-of-pocket costs. Check with your insurance company before committing to hypnotherapy as a treatment for stress.
At-Home Tips For Reducing IBS Symptoms
Tips for reducing IBS symptoms from home include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and practicing body relaxation techniques. It sounds simple, but making these habits part of your daily routine can provide much-needed relief.
Here are three tips for reducing IBS symptoms:
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can help to reduce symptoms of IBS. Make exercise a priority in your daily schedule. Even short exercise sessions can be beneficial if done on a regular basis.
- Healthy Diet: Because IBS is often exacerbated by certain foods, it’s important to work with a gastroenterologist or nutritionist to create a healthy diet plan.
- Relaxation: Most hypnotherapists incorporate some kind of progressive body relaxation into a hypnosis session. Simply find a quiet space, close your eyes, and bring your attention to each part of the body from the top of the head down to the feet. Spend some time noticing where there is tension or stress and do your best to let go and relax.
For Further Reading
Not sure if you’re ready to meet with a hypnotherapist? For online support and information about hypnotherapy for IBS and hypnosis in general see these resources:
