GI Psychology

What is GI Psychology?

Image credit: Chey et al. (2021)

GI psychology is one part of an integrated care approach to treating GI disorders:

1 | Medical Management

2 | Diet & Nutrition

3 | GI Psychology

Finding the right medication or a change in diet helps many people. For many others though, this is either not enough or there is a desire for more natural or medication-free options. This is where the information and tools of GI psychology can often be helpful.

The field of psycho-gastroenterology (or GI psychology for short) is used in the best medical centers in the world to help patients learn effective skills to cope better and, likely, improve their symptoms.

The Gut-Brain Connection

The brain & the digestive system are highly connected.  This connection is called the gut-brain axis, or gut-brain connection. 

In medicine, the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the anus, is often called the gut for short.

For any chronic health condition, stress is a significant factor but for a GI disorder, stress is even more important.  The GI system is highly affected by stress because of this gut-brain connection.  So while stress does not cause GI disorders, it is a major factor in what keeps them going.  It’s also, thankfully, one area that you have some control over.

Why Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection Matters

Imagine your gut and brain as two best friends who constantly chat, influencing each other's moods and decisions. 

Just as your friend's happiness can uplift you, or their stress can weigh you down, so it goes with your gut and brain. They communicate constantly, with each affecting the other's well-being.

For people with digestive issues, the gut-brain connection is important to understand for the following reasons:

  • Stress or anxiety can make gut symptoms worse. Have you ever noticed a connection between particularly stressful periods in your life and a worsening of your digestive symptoms?  

    Most people do & it's not a coincidence.  It's the dark side of gut-brain connection in action.

  • As we just noted, stress & anxiety can aggravate the GI symptoms.   For most people digestive symptoms themselves can be a significant source of stress. 

    This can then lead to a vicious, negative feedback loop often referred to as “the GI stress cycle”. 

  • The first step to be able to break these the negative cycles is to begin to become aware of them.   

    For many people medical treatment is essential, but not sufficient.  Meaning, that medical care is essential but medical care alone is often not enough and only gives partial relief. When the bigger picture other factors are understood it lets someone take on a more comprehensive approach to treatment & management.

    By learning about the gut-brain connection, people with digestive disorders gain valuable insights into the intricate dance of their body and mind. It empowers them to understand what other treatment options are available that can address the root causes, not just the symptoms.

    It provides a roadmap for more effective and comprehensive healing strategies.

Is GI Psychology Right for You?

Research has shown that there are some particular struggles that mind-body tools are best equipped to help with.  Here’s a short ‘quiz’ to see if the mind-body tools of GI psych would likely help you.

    • Do you find it difficult to relax or calm down when stressed?

    • Do you often feel overwhelmed?

    • Do you rely on avoidance or distraction to cope with stress?

    • Do you often feel “on edge” or need a long time to calm down after becoming stressed?

    • Are your muscles frequently tense, or do you have trouble relaxing physically?

    • Do you often experience symptoms like a racing heart, cold sweats, or tremors in stressful situations?

    • Do you worry excessively about your GI symptoms?

    • Does fear or worry about your symptoms get in the way of you living your life?

    • Are you overly attentive or sensitive to bodily sensations in your GI tract?

    • If pain is a significant symptom for you & it’s getting in the way of your life

    • If you struggle with depression or anxiety

    • If you’ve had trauma or abuse in your life & emotions are hard to control and/or relationships are difficult to manage

These are indicators that the concepts & tools of GI psych could be helpful for you. 

Treatments

If these concepts seem like they might be of help for you, the next area to explore are the three evidence-based mind-body treatments for GI disorders.