IBS?
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
A clear, science-backed explanation — finally
If you’ve been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you might have walked out of the doctor’s office feeling confused or even dismissed.
You may have heard:
“It’s just IBS.”
“Try cutting out FODMAPs.”
“It’s stress — you need to manage it.”
But what exactly is IBS? Why does it affect your body the way it does? And most importantly — what can you do about it?
Let’s break it down.
IBS is real. And no, it’s not "just in your head"
IBS is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, affecting an estimated 10–15% of people worldwide. It involves a complex interaction between your brain, gut, and nervous system.
What makes IBS different from other digestive conditions is that it doesn’t show up on scans, scopes, or standard lab tests. That’s because it’s a functional condition — the structure of your gut looks normal, but the way it functions is dysregulated.
IBS is a disorder of gut–brain interaction
IBS is best understood as a gut–brain axis disorder. That means the two “brains” in your body — the one in your head and the one in your gut — are miscommunicating.
This miscommunication leads to changes in:
Gut motility (how fast or slow food moves through your digestive tract)
Visceral sensitivity (how strongly you feel internal sensations like gas, cramps, or urgency)
Nervous system activation (your body's stress response, often stuck in survival mode)
The IBS Symptom–Stress Cycle
For many people, IBS symptoms are triggered or worsened by chronic stress — not just emotionally, but physiologically. When your nervous system is in “survival mode,” your digestive system can’t function normally.
This creates a vicious cycle:
You experience bloating, pain, or urgency
Your nervous system perceives it as a threat
That stress (threat) response worsens the symptoms
You become more hyper-aware and anxious
The loop continues
Over time, this can lead to sensitised nerves, heightened inflammation, and a gut that feels like it’s always on edge.
Does this sound familiar?
Common IBS Symptoms
IBS can look different for everyone, but the most common symptoms include:
Abdominal pain or cramping
Bloating or swelling in the abdomen
Diarrhoea (IBS-D)
Constipation (IBS-C)
Alternating bowel patterns (IBS-M)
Urgency or incomplete emptying
Excess gas or mucus in stools
Fatigue and disrupted sleep
These symptoms often fluctuate, and can be triggered by:
Hormonal shifts (especially in women)
Stress and anxiety
Food (especially high FODMAPs, gluten, or dairy)
Illness or gut infections
Dysbiosis (gut microbiome imbalance)
What IBS is not
It’s not caused by inflammation (like IBD)
It’s not caused by a structural issue or blockage
It’s not “just anxiety”
And it’s not your fault
IBS is a biopsychosocial condition — meaning it’s influenced by your biology, your environment, your experiences, and your nervous system. And it deserves to be treated as such.
What actually helps?
Many people find only partial relief from diet changes, medications, or supplements. That’s because those approaches often focus solely on the gut, while the root of IBS lies in the brain–gut connection.
The most effective, research-backed approaches target this connection directly, including:
Gut-directed hypnotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for IBS
Nervous system retraining
Chronic stress reduction
Lifestyle strategies tailored to your body’s needs
The bottom line?
IBS is real. It's complex. And it’s absolutely treatable.
You don’t need to settle for vague advice, food fear, or a life ruled by your symptoms.
There is a path forward — one that starts by understanding what’s actually going on in your body.