IBS

Don’t let gas, bloating, and diarrhea prevent you from experiencing an exceptional quality of life. At Body & Mind Consulting in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, compassionate psychologists Ken Robins, MS, PhD, Lisa Webb, MBA, MPH, PhD, and their team offer irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treatments that ease debilitating symptoms and restore digestive tract functioning. Schedule an IBS evaluation at Body & Mind Consulting by phone or request one online today.

What is IBS?

IBS is a condition that affects your digestive tract or your intestines and stomach. It can sometimes cause debilitating symptoms when not addressed. Treating IBS often consists of altering your lifestyle habits to restore optimal gastrointestinal functioning.

Which symptoms can IBS cause?

IBS can lead to:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating 
• Gass
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Cramping
• Changes in bowel movement frequency
• Changes in the look of bowel movements

Your symptoms may worsen when you eat certain foods. They might come and go and be mild, moderate, or severe. 

What may increase the risk of IBS?

The specific cause of IBS isn’t clear, but its risk factors may include:

• Nervous system abnormalities
• Abnormal muscle contractions in your intestine
• Stress early in life
• Severe infections
• Changes in gut bacteria 
• Chronic stress
• Being younger than 50
• Female gender
• Family history of IBS
• Anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders

Triggers for symptom flare-ups include eating certain foods, such as beans, cabbage, citrus fruits, dairy foods, wheat, carbonated drinks, or milk products. While anxiety and depression may contribute to IBS, IBS can also cause mental health challenges or worsen their symptoms.

How is IBS diagnosed?

The Body & Mind Consulting team diagnoses IBS after discussing your medical history, medications, symptoms, and lifestyle. They complete a psychiatric evaluation to screen for depression and other mood disorders and may refer you to a gastroenterologist if you have extreme symptoms of a GI medical complication. Lab tests can detect underlying problems.

How does a wellness specialist treat IBS?

The Body & Mind Consulting experts offer treatments that may reduce IBS symptoms. Examples include:

• Weight management
• Nutrition education
• Wellness packages
• Meditation
• Medication management
• Specialist referrals
• Healthy mind lifestyle package
• Stress management
• Brain mapping
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Personalized brainwave synchronization (Sonal Braincare™)
• Emotional freedom technique (EFT)
• Psychotherapy 
• LightStim for seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

It’s helpful to avoid IBS trigger foods, minimize stress, maintain an ideal weight, get regular exercise and plenty of sleep, eat nutritious foods at regular meal times, and drink plenty of water. Your provider follows up to ensure your treatment is effective. 

Schedule an IBS evaluation at Body & Mind Consulting by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.