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| What happens when the body is under stress? |
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What happens when the body is under stress? Well, a number of very important changes happen - and they happen very quickly indeed. We react as if we are under threat and an ages-old defence system springs into action. Why does it react so quickly to stress (threat)? Because speed of response is essential if a real threat is imminent. Faced with a car speeding towards us, there is no time for the conscious mind to process what is happening. The response is a subconscious pre-programmed one developed over millennia and it is near-instantaneous. You will notice that in an emergency your heartrate increases almost immediately to battle speed, but after the emergency is over it takes some time to revert to normal. This is an example of speed of response being essential but speed at which heartrate and other systems slow down not being so crucial.
As part of that alarm response all non-essential systems partly close down. This is to save energy and divert all available energy to muscles and vital organs in the preparation for fight or flight. This is why if we are anxious (that is, scared) because of some stressful situation, we get a dry mouth. There is no point in using energy to produce saliva because in an emergency eating would not be a priority. The rest of our digestive system would also partly close down. This obviously interferes substantially with the digestion of food, but remember the body is at battle stations and energy is diverted to more important areas. In fact if we are very frightened we will literally be sick with fear (or need to have an immediate bowel movement - hence 'shit scared'). This is normal in the event of a real life-threatening emergency and, by expelling waste (or unprocessed food), makes us better able to fight or escape.
But - and it is a big but - think what is going to happen if we are constantly under stress (anxious). The body is going to be constantly at battle stations. This is very tiring for one thing (which is why very stressed people tend to feel tired a lot of the time). It also means the working of our digestive system, and all our other body systems, is going to be impaired.
This is how, in a nutshell, stress affects the gut (the shorthand term gastroenterologists use for the digestive system).
How does knowing this help? Once we understand what may be going on, instead of our body being a mysterious foreign country it makes how it works more understandable. Knowledge is power which means we can then start to make some changes. First, we need to understand what is causing the anxiety/stress. Is it the IBS symptoms themselves? Or is there also some anxiety about people or social situations, or a lack of confidence or an excessive need to please, any of which may be contributing to the IBS? People with a high need to achieve can also put themselves - and their digestive system - under undue pressure and are likely candidates for IBS. In fact, there is some interesting research that suggests IBS sufferers tend to fall into one of two 'types': those who consistently put others before themselves, and those who drive themselves very hard.
Once we have more understanding we can, with support and guidance, start to make changes and introduce different experiences (e.g. of relaxation instead of tension, or practising being assertive instead of compliant, or giving time and priority to ourselves and not just to other people). Any such changes cause a break in the vicious circle of IBS: anxiety-IBS-more anxiety-more IBS - and so on. All we have to do to obliterate a vicious circle is to cause a break in it (because no circle with a break in it can complete itself).
The aim of both individual sessions at the IBS Treatment Centre and the IBS Journey To Health mail order package is to do just that and free you from the IBS symptoms. |
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"The Package created some important changes for me...I know it's a cliche but I feel I've got my life back" |
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