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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal psychological disorder that frequently develops and worsens in response to stress. As a result, it is critical to address both physically and mentally.

 Recent research on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has proved one widely studied psychological treatment for IBS. It focuses on the emotions and cognitions associated with IBS symptoms and incorporates exciting stress management and mindfulness activities.

If you have been incurred with the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Disease, here’s how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can ease the symptoms.

What is Irritable Bowel Disease?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that has affected nearly 35 million Americans.  IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and altered gut motility, which results in diarrhea and constipation.

IBS has traditionally been considered a “functional” gastrointestinal (GI) condition, which means systemic or physiochemical abnormalities do not account for symptoms. A “functional” diagnosis carries a stigma, and healthcare professionals dismiss patients because symptoms are “psychosomatic” or “all in your head.”

Patients with IBS often complain they have an excruciating stomach ache, are mostly nauseous, and have frequent diarrhea and vomiting.

IBS is now regarded as a “disorder of gut-brain interaction” rather than a functional condition by experts in the field. This emphasis on brain-gut interaction is critical for removing the stigma about IBS and promoting psychological therapies for IBS.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT is a type of psychotherapy currently used for mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. CBT is based on the idea that thoughts (cognitions), feelings, and behaviors are interconnected.

Mental Health Experts believe that we have limited control over our thoughts, and one may go way beyond with their thoughts without realizing the resulting damage; in a worst-case scenario stress-induced IBS.

CBT can turn on the “rest and digest” response instead of the “fight or flight” response, which can help reduce the harmful effects of the fight or flight response. Deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and guided visualization are all techniques that can assist the body in achieving this relaxed state. These techniques are known as relaxation training and are essential for CBT.

How does CBT work for IBS?

CBT is not the same as conventional psychotherapy, and it is among therapies for a health condition that involves focusing on factors such as anxiety that contribute to symptoms.

It is generally conducted for a shorter term, with as few as four to five sessions required. Furthermore, it is a patient-adhering therapy because it is a non-medication treatment plan.

CBT teaches people how better to regulate their bodies’ physical responses to stress.

Some of the coping strategies include:

• alleviating misconceptions about IBS by educating people on how the body and mind are linked and why behavioral therapy can help.
• Assisting people in learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing (deep breathing), which can relax the bowel and reduce symptoms in the short term.
• Reduce the negative thought patterns that can aggravate symptoms.
• People are taught to recognize distorted thoughts and ward them off with more positive self-talk.

CBT Psychological Tools for the Assessment of IBS

Psychological interventions to change cognition and behaviors associated with IBS necessitate an appropriate psychological assessment. The following are some of the scales that have been frequently used during recent studies on CBT for IBS;

Functional bowel disorder cognitive scale

The Cognitive Scale for Functional Bowel Disorder contains 25 items that assess dysfunctional cognition concerning abdominal symptoms (for example, “I am mostly sick with bowel problems”). The items are scored like;  1 for strongly disagree and 7  for strongly agree.

Questionnaire for Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Behavioral Responses

The Questionnaire consists of 26 items with a scale from 1 (never) to 7 (always), with a total score ranging from 26 to 182 and comprises of 2 factors: avoidance behavior scale (e.g., “I don’t go out in case I have problems with my IBS”) and control behavior scale (e.g.,  I check my stool for abnormalities after defecation”).

The QOL questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life questionnaire has 34-items with a self-report indicator explicitly designed to assess the impact of IBS on Quality of Life (for example, “I am irritated with how much time I spend in the toilet”). Its qualitative score has a value between 0 and 31 (mild), 32–66 (moderate), and 67–100 (severe)

Get your Cognitive therapy in Metuchen, New Jersey

Irritable Bowel disease can drastically affect the quality of life of the patient. Luckily enough, Cognitive Therapy has set its grounds in alleviating the symptoms. If you or your loved one is suffering from IBS and looking for a CBT center in the vicinity of Metuchen, New Jersey, More Life Recovery Centre can help you with it.

They offer outpatient services in a small, individualized setting where you will feel as safe as at home.

To book an appointment, dial 1 (888) 825-8689. Or visit their website moreliferecoverycenter.com, for further information.

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IBS