IBS sufferers, you’re sabotaging yourself!

"I’m fine." Those words easily slip off your tongue whenever someone asks how you’re feeling. Whether it’s a cheerful co-worker, a check-out assistant, or a partner, you respond with that phrase. Even if you’ve just spent the last two hours in the bathroom in agony, doing everything you can to make it to work, school, college, or the store, “I’m fine” is all you say.

You shouldn’t say you're fine when you’re not, it rarely helps!

I’m fine." Those words easily slip off your tongue whenever someone asks how you’re feeling. Whether it’s a cheerful co-worker, a check-out assistant, or a partner, you respond with that phrase. Even if you’ve just spent the last two hours in the bathroom in agony, doing everything you can to make it to work, school, college, or the store, “I’m fine” is all you say.

Living with IBS

You may have encountered phrases such as ‘the mind-body connection’ and ‘brain-gut axis’, and IBS sufferers will have heard the phrase ‘brain-gut axis’. These statements, often used by health professionals, recognize the close connection and interaction between the mind and body.

You may get warm, fuzzy feelings when you think of someone you love. When you think of someone less likable, you experience different feelings. But those feelings result from thoughts, even if the person you love or dislike is nowhere near you.

When you are stressed or anxious, you will experience the emotional impact of those emotions also within your body, often likely to be in your gut, making the IBS symptoms worse.

So what can you do about this?

• The first thing is to recognize the link between mind and body; I expect every reader will be able to relate to that.
• Secondly, be aware that your internal speech is also important  

For example, when you say you are fine, your subconscious tries to match up your words with how you feel emotionally and physically. It instantly recognizes that it cannot relate, so this causes an internal conflict.  Your body and mind are saying one thing, your words are saying something else.

Your subconscious becomes conflicted. Why are you saying something that is not true? How can you be fine when you feel as you do?

This internal conflict starts draining your emotional energy. The subconscious needs to understand. Otherwise, you may be wasting emotional energy that you may have little of in the first place! It’s important to be honest with yourself.

So, when someone asks how you are doing, if it's appropriate, say ‘I’m coping’ or ‘I’m coping, thank you’ in two words or four.

What these words do is several things.

• Firstly, your statement is true – you are coping. The self-deceptions have stopped!
• Second, it lets others know you are not having the best of times without going into detail. It’s like code for "leave me alone!"
• Thirdly, your subconscious balances your answer internally – yes, you are coping, you are not at your best, and it can understand your truthful reply, so it looks no further.  You immediately stop wasting valuable energy!

Those few little words can have a considerable positive impact. 

Try them out. You will feel better for speaking to them. The great thing is that you will be starting a journey of understanding that your internal speaking can help you feel better in both mind and body, in many ways. And that is an exciting and rewarding journey indeed.

In the IBS Audio Program 100 Introduction session, you will hear lots about the mind and body and why you feel the way you do, in easy-to-understand language. Just hearing this track has helped many understand that there is hope! 

The rest of the IBS Audio Program 100 provides structured learning to reduce symptoms and frequency. 

To see  more about the IBS Audio Program 100, click here

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Article TAKE AWAY

Here are five key takeaways from the article for IBS sufferers:

1. Honesty with Yourself Matters: Instead of automatically saying "I'm fine" when you're not, acknowledge your true feelings. Admitting you’re not at your best—or saying "I'm coping"—avoids internal conflict between your spoken words and your genuine state of being.

2. The Power of the Brain-Gut Connection: There is a real and significant interaction between your mind and your gut, commonly called the brain-gut axis. Emotional stress, anxiety, and even the language you use internally can directly influence IBS symptoms.

3. Impact of Internal Dialogue: Your subconscious listens closely to your words. When you claim you’re "fine" despite feeling otherwise, you create a mismatch that drains emotional energy. Honest self-talk—like stating you are coping—allows your subconscious to harmonize with your true state, conserving your energy.

4. Choosing Supportive Language: Phrases such as "I'm coping" reflect reality and serve as a gentle signal to others that you might need space or support. This small adjustment in language can have a positive ripple effect, both internally and in your interactions.

5. Empowerment Through Understanding and Structured Guidance: The first step is to recognise the mind-body link and adopt honest language. Furthermore, engaging with the structured IBS Audio Program 100 can offer insights and techniques to reduce symptom frequency and improve physical and emotional well-being. 

Embracing these takeaways can set you on a rewarding journey toward better managing your IBS by aligning your internal dialogue with your actual experiences, thereby reducing unnecessary emotional energy drain. 

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