Women with IBS tell me they feel alone.
With friends or even a therapist, it seems like IBS isn’t something people want to hear about.
I can relate. As I’ve shared my podcast with close friends, I realized that they didn’t even know I had IBS!
When my IBS was diagnosed and at it’s worst, I was shut down, closing myself in and scared. I did not have anyone to talk to about IBS.
If you are lucky, you have at least one person in your life that you can open up to. If you don’t, I want you to walk away today understanding how truly life changing it can be-for you personally and for healing your IBS-to find that empathetic person who will listen to you.
Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources at HealingHerIBS.com/3
What Keeps You From Opening Up About IBS?
It feels stigmatizing to talk about symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, gas, and constipation. I think we inherited the notion that good girls don’t talk about such things. That it’s not polite, or that people don’t want to hear about it.
Have you ever felt of been made to feel that way?
You start to isolate in your suffering because you don’t feel you can talk about it. That disconnection adds to stress, which increases symptoms of IBS.
But talking with someone that is compassionate and understanding to your IBS could be one of the key ways that you begin to step towards healing.
Healing IBS Through Connection
Human beings are hard wired to seek out and connect to others when in need. Babies naturally communicate to get their needs met.
In the US especially the message is to be self-reliant. If you can’t figure something out on your own, you are made to feel something is wrong with you.
With IBS, because it feels shameful and traumatic, the temptation is to shut down, shut out other people. But healing physically, emotionally, and mentally is best done with the help of others.
Are you trying to manage IBS without support?
I know that you feel like no one can understand you. But I will tell you that finding and opening up to one person about my IBS was essential to my healing.
How to Connect With Others Around Your IBS
You might be thinking that makes sense, but you have no one in your life that you could feel comfortable opening up to about your IBS.
I understand and I want you to create more connection and healing with your IBS, even though it may be hard at first.
I want you to try to:
- Talk to a family member
- Open up slowly with a trusted friend
- Talk to a therapist, a coach or a healer (doctor, acupuncturist, physical therapist)
- Join a support group
Get up the courage to ask.
Remember that making that first move and getting a positive reaction can mean a world of difference to you, your nervous system and your body’s ability to go into a more relaxed state. That relaxed state is the healing state.
And healing comes through connection.
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