Is your anxiety sky-high during your IBS flareups? Watch this video to learn
5 quick steps to get your mind and body under control again. For the most helpful information
you’ll find about IBS online, subscribe to my channel and hit the bell
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If you feel paralysed by your IBS anxiety, by the end of this video you’ll
be armed with tools to stop it from taking over your entire life. I'm Wendy Leung:
Holistic Health & Happiness Coach, Licensed Acupuncturist, and Powerhouse IBS Conqueror,
and I totally understand how anxiety can overrun your life. I teach my clients how to take back control
and now I’m sharing with you too!
Which came first - your anxiety or your IBS? Some of you might be able to answer this:
your anxiety only spikes when it’s about your IBS, so no IBS, no anxiety.
But most of you won’t know the answer because you’ve had your anxiety
AND your IBS for so long that it’s hard to tell anymore.
The major anxiety symptom people with IBS struggle with is overthinking.
Going over the same things over and over and not being able to shut off your brain, even at nighttime.
Your thoughts seem like a runaway train, starting as soon as you wake up:
What if I leave the house today and immediately need to run for the bathroom?
What if I’m late for the morning meeting and I can’t hand in my project on time?
What if my boss notices and thinks I’m slacking off?
What if my stomach’s gurgling so loud that everyone’s staring at me?
What if people notice I’m in the bathroom for so long?
What if I screw up because I’m so exhausted I can’t focus?
I can’t believe I screwed up that thing last week that everyone else has gotten over but I’m still worried about…
Do you get these types of anxious thoughts too?
Let me know by dropping Yes or No in the comments below.
As your thoughts gain more and more momentum, you can feel your gut churning, clenching, spasming. And that makes you worry even more.
So what can you do to stop this vicious cycle? Here are 5 quick steps you can take,
in the moment, to help you get it under control:
#1: Recognize what’s happening. This sounds simple, but taking a moment to actually step back
and acknowledging the cause-and-effect cycle from an outside perspective breaks
the cycle – even if it’s just temporarily. #2: Take a few deep breaths.
Take a few deep breaths in and out and make a point of physically feeling as your ribcage,
your lungs, and your belly is expanding and contracting with each breath.
With this step, we’re bringing your focus back to the present and
reconnecting your mind into your body. #3: Feel the ground beneath your feet.
This is an extension of step#2 where you're really cementing
yourself back into your body, back to present, and back to your surroundings.
Stomp your feet a little if you want to and imagine you’re shaking yourself
back down from your head into your toes.
#4: Repeat an affirmation.
Find one that resonates with you personally, that contrasts the anxiety you tend to feel.
A few examples are: I am supported, I am enough, I am focused,
I am recognized, everything works out how it’s meant to be,
or my personal favourite: there is always enough time
#5: Take a few deep breaths, again.
Now, this time as you breathe in and out , feel your torso expand but also feel your
breath as it resonates through your arms and your legs all the way down to your
fingers and your toes. Breathing is a major, major tool to help
you calm your anxiety and also to open up space in your body so that that calms down as well.
Take this quick five-step process and do it wherever you are –
whether you're on a snack break at work, in the shower, or even when you're on the
toilet during an IBS attack! Wherever you need, as often as you need.
The more you practice it, the more you'll be able to catch yourself before the cycle gets too bad
and over time it'll make a huge difference to getting your IBS and your
anxiety under control for good.
So to recap: here's the 5-step process to stop your IBS anxiety AS it starts.
#1: Recognize what’s happening,
#2: Take a few deep breaths, #3: Feel the ground beneath your feet,
#4: Repeat an affirmation, And #5: Take a few deep breaths, again.
So today we've talked about the anxiety that comes with IBS and how to take steps
to really get that under control
But if you want to learn more IBS tips including some diet recommendations to get your IBS and
your gut in order, sign up for my free online class. The link is in the description box below.
Also, come join my tribe: my facebook community of Powerful Women Conquering IBS
where I share even more tips on how to kickstart your IBS journey to health.
If you liked this video, please let me know by liking it below
and drop a comment with the word "helpful" or let me know how these five steps are
working for you. And also make sure that you share with your fellow IBS conquerors
because I want to make sure that everybody knows that IBS is not a forever thing
and I can help you guys beat this thing together!
I have so much more to share with you, including a new series on IBS and emotional mental health
so make sure that you stay tuned by subscribing to my channel
and hitting the bell so that you're notified every single Friday when a new video is posted.