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IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Dr. Cathy Armstrong, registered nurse, holistic health care practitioner, nutrition counselor, yoga therapist, and ordained minister, is a member of the American Holistic Nursing Association and brings a total mind-body-spirit approach to the treatment of IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME in the Corpus Christi, Texas. She works with local Corpus Christi physicians to help IBS patients break to bonds of irritable bowel syndrome and regain control of their lives. Now that Corpus Christi has a holistic life wellness counselor and nurse educator/nutrition consultant trained to work with Irritable Bowel Syndrome local patients are finding positive results using stress management techniques, cognitive behavior therapy, imagery, and clinical hypnosis with Cathy. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) takes up to 50% of the gastroenterologist's workload, according to British researchers. Symptoms - abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea - can be sufficiently severe to impair the patient's quality of life. Although specific medications have recently become available to address the condition, treatment remains unsatisfactory for many patients.
Hypnotherapy, stress management, and energy work have been shown to be an effective adjunctive form of therapy, at least in the short term. Now a study has been reported in the British journal Gut that describes the long-term benefits of this form of treatment. Corpus Christi now has the same mind, body, spirit services that people travel to Arizona, Washington State, and New Mexico to obtain.
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A Psychological and Holistic Apporach to Regaining Control Of Your Life
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It is not entirely clear how stress, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are related -- or which one comes first -- but studies show they tend to co-exist.In doing a diagnostic assessment interview on my clients with IBS, about 60% meet the criteria for one or more mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or post traumatic stress disorder.
The most common mental ailment I see in my practice with people with IBS is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and about 60% of my clients with anxiety problems also have IBS. About 20% of my IBS clients have depression, and the rest have other disorders.
Regardless of whether clients have IBS, people with anxiety tend to worry greatly about issues such as health, money, or careers, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Other symptoms include stomach upset, trembling, muscle aches, sleep difficulties, headaches, dizziness, and irritability.
There are several theories about the connection between IBS and stress and anxiety:
• Even though psychological problems such as anxiety do not cause IBS, people with IBS may be more sensitive to emotional troubles.
• Stress and anxiety may make the mind more aware of spasms in the colon.
• IBS may be triggered by the immune system, which is affected by stress. Stress management can help prevent or ease IBS symptoms.
• Some people use relaxation techniques such a deep breathing or visualization, where they image a peaceful scene.
• Other people reduce stress by doing something enjoyable, such as talking to a friend, reading, listening to music, going to a movie, going to the beach, or shopping.
Regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating a good diet for IBS also helps reduce tension.
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