Expert: Alan L. Alves - 5/24/2009

Question
Hi,

I have been diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorder whereby I experienced nauseousness, abdominal pains and gastric when I'm nervous or stress. Since there is no medicine for it, I was wondering if hypnosis could help. Sometimes the nervousness that I encounter seems ridiculous but I still cannot understand why I'm feeling nervous. Your help would be much appreciated.

Answer
Hypnotherapy can help greatly with this disorder. Numerous studies have shown a dramatic improvement in gastrointestinal disorders.
It is one of the most successful treatment approaches for chronic IBS. The response rate to treatment is 80% and better in most published studies to date. It is a uniquely comfortable form of treatment; relaxing, easy and generally enjoyable.
The researchers suggested that patients with gastrointestinal disorders should have access to hypnotherapy to treat their disorder. It must also be pointed out that treating gastrointestinal problems with hypnotherapy can produce greater savings in medical costs. The reason for this is a reduction in usage of prescription drugs and a reduction in medical visits to doctors.
Many times, the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders can become worse if there is added stress on the individual. Hypnosis therapy targets stress, diminishes it and relaxes the subject. As part of the chain reaction, the symptoms of initial disorders can decrease as well. This is why many health professionals may recommend getting hypnosis therapy for patients who experience problems with their digestive system.