Hypnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
IBS, Crohn's Disease and other Gastric Disorders
Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of clinical hypnosis in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Hypnotherapy+irritable+bowel) Hypnosis does not cure IBS, but it can significantly decrease the pain and anxiety concomitant with the disorder. Those who suffer from IBS are familiar with the cycle of pain and other gastric symptoms (e.g., bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation) and anxiety that characterize IBS. Hypnosis targets both the anxiety about having an attack, which can precipitate and exacerbate attacks, and the intensity of the symptoms.
Many people with IBS report that their symptoms began after a particularly stressful time in their lives. It can be helpful to identify the events that precipitated IBS and desensitize them using hypnosis. Sometimes other methods (such as EMDR or CBT) can be combined with hypnosis to decrease the residual anxiety related to such events.
Hypnosis also targets the anticipatory anxiety IBS sufferers experience around having debilitating symptoms that adversely impact their ability to participate in life. The hypnotist makes post-hypnotic suggestions that a person will remain calm regardless of what is going on around him, and that sensations of discomfort will decrease steadily. As the client experiences these changes, she feels more control over her IBS and less anticipatory anxiety, which decreases the incidence of IBS episodes.
I have used a protocol developed by Ollafur Paalson, Psy. D., a psychologist at the UNC medical center gastroenterology department, for 12 years with dozens of clients. Many people report a significant decrease in the frequency, intensity and duration of IBS episodes as early as several sessions into the 7-session protocol. If other methods are added to this protocol (e.g., EMDR) additional sessions may be needed.
Over the years I have used hypnosis effectively to treat people suffering from a range of gastric disorders, including Crohn's Disease, Colitis, and gastroparesis. Typically clients come to me after having had an extensive GI workup. This is important to insure that any underlying disorder that needs to be treated medically is identified and treated by a physician.
Below is a list of URLs for websites and articles discussing hypnotic treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Many people with IBS report that their symptoms began after a particularly stressful time in their lives. It can be helpful to identify the events that precipitated IBS and desensitize them using hypnosis. Sometimes other methods (such as EMDR or CBT) can be combined with hypnosis to decrease the residual anxiety related to such events.
Hypnosis also targets the anticipatory anxiety IBS sufferers experience around having debilitating symptoms that adversely impact their ability to participate in life. The hypnotist makes post-hypnotic suggestions that a person will remain calm regardless of what is going on around him, and that sensations of discomfort will decrease steadily. As the client experiences these changes, she feels more control over her IBS and less anticipatory anxiety, which decreases the incidence of IBS episodes.
I have used a protocol developed by Ollafur Paalson, Psy. D., a psychologist at the UNC medical center gastroenterology department, for 12 years with dozens of clients. Many people report a significant decrease in the frequency, intensity and duration of IBS episodes as early as several sessions into the 7-session protocol. If other methods are added to this protocol (e.g., EMDR) additional sessions may be needed.
Over the years I have used hypnosis effectively to treat people suffering from a range of gastric disorders, including Crohn's Disease, Colitis, and gastroparesis. Typically clients come to me after having had an extensive GI workup. This is important to insure that any underlying disorder that needs to be treated medically is identified and treated by a physician.
Below is a list of URLs for websites and articles discussing hypnotic treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
http://www.ibshypnosis.com
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA362910
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/digestive-disorders/articles/2008/11/19/try-hypnosis-and-counseling-for-ibs-and-crohns
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I have seen clients for IBS treatment from as far away as Worcester and Cape Cod. My practice is currently in Belmont, very close to Cambridge and Watertown and a 15 minute drive from both Brookline and Newton Centre.
