Moms & Mayhem: Do You Have IBS?
Managing kid and home. Photo: Creative Commons via Flickr By USACE Europe District
We all know moms have more than enough stress in their lives. Helping kids with school, wiping runny noses, drying tears, planning meals, supervising chores, driving everyone to practices and lessons—it’s all par for the course. Add in working a job outside the home, spending time with friends, and trying not to alienate your spouse, and you have a recipe for health problems.
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Irritable bowel syndrome, unfortunately, can be one of those problems. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, IBS is a chronic disorder characterized by digestive problems. Exact causes are unknown. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. Needless to say, it’s not much fun. Symptoms may disappear in a while, only to return with a vengeance another time.
IBS & Stress
People with IBS often experience a lot of stress and anxiety. According to UpToDate, stress and anxiety are probably not direct causes of IBS, but they are known to affect digestion. And dealing with the symptoms of IBS can stress anyone out. The result can be a nasty cycle of stress making your IBS worse, which then causes you more stress. IBS can make a mom’s crazy-stressful life into one that feels like it’s going over the edge. The good news is that relieving your stress can, in fact, diminish your symptoms.
Taking Care of Yourself
It may seem counter-intuitive, but taking care of yourself is crucial, regardless of whether you’re done taking care of everyone else. If you’ve been skimping on sleep or exercise or healthy eating—or all three—in order to make more time for your family, stop it. You need your sleep, you need exercise, and you need the benefits of a healthy diet. When your body’s weak, your family suffers as well, so skimping here doesn’t help in the long run. As an added bonus, exercise itself can help reduce feelings of stress. Taking some occasional “me” time to do something you enjoy can also calm your nerves and energize your soul.
Other Options for IBS Sufferers
There are plenty of self-help stress management techniques out there. Among them are aromatherapy, yoga, and meditation. Even simple activities such as watching a funny movie, listening to relaxing music, or soaking in a soothing bath can help you de-stress. In addition, trained professionals can provide techniques such as massage, relaxation therapy and biofeedback.
Beyond stress relief, you have other choices as well. There is no known cure for IBS, but there are medications your doctor can prescribe to ease symptoms. Your doctor may also want to discuss dietary changes that can improve your condition, such as adding extra fiber.
Some IBS sufferers also have success with alternative treatments. Peppermint oil has a calming effect on digestion, and has been known to alleviate IBS symptoms. Acupuncture is another alternative treatment that may help. Probiotics can restore the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract, so it too can be effective in some cases.
Whatever you choose, know that you’re not alone. You can find resources for help with IBS and stress management on the Internet, and your health care professional can undoubtedly offer more. So take heart. Just don’t let all these choices stress you out.
Author: Donna Savage is a nutritional counselor with a family history of digestive problems. IBS Peppermint treatments are one effective way to alleviate suffering from this medical condition.
