There is something interesting that I am discovering from my many phone calls with women looking to enter my low Fodmap coaching program.
Most of them have told me that they have had some kind of digestive issue all their lives but a few had it come on suddenly. But the interesting thing is that there was always an inciting factor for the start or for kicking it up a notch. For some it was a very bad stomach infection with diarrhea but for most it was a traumatic event in their lives.
The Inciting Factor for IBS
For me, it was the illness and death of my father eight years ago. I remember wondering why my gut had to play up right now when I had so much to cope with. It then got progressively worse leading to my visiting several healthcare professionals to no avail and to eventually sorting it myself with the low Fodmap diet through online research.
Others I have spoken to have also had the death of a close family member as their inciting factor, but other traumas have included:
- The serious illnesses of a child, in one case two children at once
- A bad car accident that left her in hospital for some time
- One lady lost her job of 20 years with no real explanation or appreciation for her dedication for all those years
- One had her brother and mother get cancer within two weeks of each other
- Another had her partner commit a crime and end up in prison.
The list goes on but the pattern is plain enough to see.
Does your personality type affect IBS?
What would be interesting to investigate is the personality type of these women. Are they all women who hold in their emotions and internalize them, which then eats away at them from the inside out? Are those who are able to express their feelings more freely exempt from IBS? This is conjecture on my part but I know I am one of the former who tries to be strong for everyone else, even though I am dying inside.
There is something to be said for the wailing and gnashing of teeth that goes on in some cultures when they are upset. But for those of us of Anglo-Saxon descent, such behavior would be unseemly and so we put a brave front on it and damage our health.
I think we have it wrong!
The Recipe
Today’s low Fodmap recipe is a comforting brown rice salad filled with low Fodmap vegetables, chicken and feta (you can have 1/2 a cup of feta). It is also a great one for making your own version with any leftovers you have in the fridge. The dressing is a simple vinaigrette which does the job well.
- 2 cups of brown rice (uncooked)
- 1 tomato, chopped up
- 1 courgette, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 150gms/5.3oz feta, cut into squares
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup chopped cooked green beans
- 2 spring onions (green part only), chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
- Salt & pepper
- Tabasco sauce
- Boil the rice according to the instructions on the packet.
- Drain and run cold water through. Drain thoroughly.
- Tip into a serving bowl and mix through 1 tbsp of olive oil to stop it sticking.
- Add all the other ingredients.
- Dress with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and a few drops of Tabasco sauce.
- Mix all together and serve.
I have no doubt my personality plays into my IBS. I always feel the need to be in control…the rock of the family…and my IBS flares big time in times of stress. My head says I’m fine, but my gut tells me otherwise. That’s one reason I’ve tried hypnotism and meditation in conjunction with diet.
I know that feeling of the head saying everything is okay and the body saying something different. Both hypnotism and meditation should help. The hypnotism would be best conducted by someone who is well versed in the area of gut brain connection. Hopefully, you are trying the low Fodmap diet for your IBS, Karen.
Food plays such an important part in our lives — we eat it to celebrate, we remember with nostalgia favorite dishes that mom used to make — that it makes sense emotional events can cause digestive problems. Anyway, great salad — and I so love feta!
Food is major in our lives, Isn’t it! It is associated with everything we do. It still amazes me how doctors have said for the longest time that food has no bearing on various different ailments. We are the food that goes into our gut, as far as I am concerned.
I certainly believe there is a connection between emotions and our gut. I heard recently that every emotion we experience has an effect on our gut and negative emotions can cause a leaky gut and bowel upsets xx
Yes, it does seem that we can suffer from debilitating conditions due to stress and the gut is the body part that suffers the most. That brain-gut axis is super sensitive in those with IBS.
I think you are on to something with the personality types! I am very much Type A…do not allow for emotion….I know my body takes a toll!
We Type As have a tough time with showing emotion and so we suffer more than others but it appears to the rest of the world like we are tough and handle pain really well. We are our own worst enemies.
i am interested about your my IBS problems got worse after a major event. it seems mine was having my son 2 1/2 years ago. I have always suffered a bit on and off but this seems more constant with other problems like acute hives etc. I think this event has changed this, I definitely feel like I am wired slightly differently since having him body and brain – my hubby though sewn me up wrong as had a C-section but like I told him wrong areas ish !!!! loved finding your website and a low fod map diet is helping. I haven’t mastered it and still have set backs following cheats and temptation but I am learning to think more about what I put into my body
The birth of a child is definitely a traumatic enough experience for the body to change its functioning. It is also an enormous psychological change and that affects the functioning of our gut too. If you need help with the low Fodmap diet, I have a few different coaching programs that could help you. If you are interested in maybe participating in one, fill in the form here: http://www.strandsofmylife.com/inspiredlife and I will give you a call for a chat.
This line is very interesting. I had a traumatic event at work about 12 years. If this event contributed to my IBS does this mean that I will continue to have IBS the rest of my life? I have been retired from the job for 6 years and the IBS only continues to get worse. I am still under stress but now for different reasons. I have a controlling personality and always try to make everyone happy which does contribute to stress. Does the gut ever heal from this? Has there been research about whether the gut heals on this diet or is IBS a life long medical issue for me?
Thanks
Unfortunately, there is no cure for IBS and it is for life but you can eliminate the symptoms by using the low Fodmap diet and by learning relaxation techniques which help you to deal with stress in a different way. If you like, you could have a look at my coaching page: https://www.strandsofmylife.com/coachingprogram/ There is a link at the bottom of the page where you can fill in an application form for a complimentary phone call to discuss your issues and the program in more detail.
Jackie, I would definitely say that was a very traumatic period of your life and a clear trigger of your IBS problems.
Yes, the low Fodmap diet works brilliantly and can turn your life around. If you are interested in help through my coaching program, you can fill in the application form here: http://www.strandsofmylife.com/inspiredlife and I will give you a complimentary call to have a conversation around your issues and let you know more about the program.
Hi Suzanne please could you remove the old comment. I dont want this coming up when you google my name and i cant remove it myself.
Wow! What an article on traumatic events and IBS. I love your comment that there is something to be said for wailing and crying out, and learning to speak up!
Do you have any other good resources on working through the emotions when you don’t like to?
Many thanks for your wonderful and professional website!
Thank you for your comments, Robbi. From experience, I know it is difficult to change overnight from someone who holds in their emotions to a person who can express their emotions freely without regard for social norms. I suspect that it would involve therapy. I have heard a lot of good things about “Better Health”, which is for finding the perfect online therapist for you and your issues. Good luck.