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-by DR. VIDIT SINGH

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is an affliction of the gut primarily with symptoms like altered bowel habits, chiefly constipation or loose stools or both alternating, abdominal cramps, heartburn, indigestion, feeling of incomplete evacuation and repeated washroom visits for the same. These are the symptoms related to your digestive system, but the root cause of this ailment lies in the mind, in most of the cases, if not all. Hence, it's an ailment which requires a collaborative approach towards treatment where a gastroenterologist and mental health professionals have to join hands together to provide the patient tangible benefits and lasting relief.

There's something called the "gut-brain-axis" which simply put, is an intricate relationship between the mind and the functioning of the digestive system. The neurotransmitter called Serotonin which is related to depression, anxiety and even psychosis is found more in the digestive system than in our brains actually, quantity wise and it is not just our mind which perceives stress; our digestive system does too, due to the relationship it shares with the mind, as stated above.

It may happen that a person who is usually anxious about most things starts having gastric symptoms one fine day without any major event preceding or a person who hasn't had a history of anxiety or depression encountered a major life altering event and thereafter started having these gastric symptoms. In both cases, it was the stress perceived by the mind which was translated to the gastric symptoms and since these symptoms are very problematic in themselves, they do not let the stress decrease and trap the person in a vicious cycle of stress and gastric symptoms. The initial cause of stress may have been addressed but the gastric symptoms have now become a chronic  source of stress and the person starts running from pillar to post to find relief, but mostly to gastroenterologists and end up spending a lot of money on various tests and investigations. The investigations are important to rule out other possible causes of gastric symptoms but having a clear cut stressor or being able to identify personality factors can help the person seek help sooner and from the right sources. 

If we are able to address the stressors, the underlying anxiety and possibly even depression, and start treatment for the same, the person will find relief which may not come immediately (because anti-anxiety medicines, antidepressants and psychotherapies take time to act) but will be lasting and shall definitely provide more relief than the medicines acting solely on the digestive system.

The bottom line is, (to put it as simply as possible) if you are the kind of person who worries a lot, is worried about most things, or all, gets worried easily, or has been through a nerve wracking experience recently and are now experiencing symptoms related to your digestive system, it wouldn't hurt to visit a mental health professional after you have visited a gastroenterologist (who may or may not direct you towards the former). It may just do you a world of good!