WELCOME TO THE IBS TREATMENT PROGRAMME
Adrian Blake BA (Hons), BACP Accredited, UKCP Registered
Dip Psychology (Lond), MNRHP, Cert Ed
UK practices in Bromley, Kent, and Norfolk
IBS
Treatment Programme - Homepage
Background to the IBS
Treatment Programme developed by Adrian Blake
Individual Sesssions - Fees and How to Make an Appointment
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- an Overview
Stress and IBS
Gut Directed Hypnotherapy
- what happens in therapy sessions?
Am I Likely to Benefit?
Gut Directed Hypnotherapy
- Research
Links
To contact me:
Email: Adrian Blake
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - an Overview
If you are an IBS sufferer you may feel both isolated and embarrassed. The finer points of diarrhoea or constipation are seldom regarded as acceptable topics for conversation. Yet Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - of which these are some of the classic symptoms - affects many thousands of people, with more female sufferers than male. The symptoms, which may also include abdominal pain and bloated stomach, can persist for years. Social activities or holding down a job can become difficult and sometimes impossible.
Because of the restricted lifestyle and because there seems no answer, IBS often leads to anxiety or depression.
So what causes IBS? For many people IBS is very stress-related. If not the cause, stress usually plays a major part in making the symptoms worse. In addition some sufferers are thought to have an especially sensitive digestive system, this sensitivity causing it to 'over-react' to stress. This means the individual can end up in a vicious circle: the IBS causing stress which in turn helps perpetuate the IBS symptoms.
Although medication can help, IBS can also prove frustratingly persistent. Even when initially effective a tolerance can develop towards some medications if taken on a regular basis (which means the person has to take bigger and bigger doses to get the same effect). Often IBS sufferers are told they just 'have to live with it'.
One approach that has proved an important breakthrough in treatment is known as Gut Directed Hypnotherapy. This was developed around twenty years ago by Manchester doctor Peter Whorwell and research has shown it can obtain relief of symptoms for 60-80% of sufferers. More importantly, follow-up studies indicate that where improvements occur they tend to be long-lasting (rather than offering just temporary relief). The approach involves induction of hypnosis followed by a sequence of suggestions aimed at normalising bowel movements and removing pain and bloating. Treatment is usually short-term. In-between sessions individuals listen to a specially designed CD on a daily basis to reinforce the treatment. They also monitor their progress by completing various charts.
Important! Your IBS should be confirmed by a medical practitioner before you come to see me. It is important you have your symptoms thoroughly checked out to exclude other gut related disorders.