Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Reeta was going through a difficult patch. She was not happy with her job and suffering depression and anxiety. It was affecting her relationship with her husband and that was proving stressful.

She had an eating disorder that she felt hypnotherapy could relieve. She felt that the disorder was connected to her self-image. She thought of food all the time and she wanted to get rid of that feeling. Like many people suffering from eating disorders she recognised that food helped fill an emotional void in her - she had a feeling of hunger even though she wasn't hungry.

Her childhood had been unhappy. She came from a large family where the father had been verabally abusive and a mother who was lacking emotionally. She didn't feel valued growing up and consequently lacked confidence.

She had been having pychotherapy in New Zealand 12 years ago for 2 years and then more recently for 2 years and had been diagnosed as suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, but it is puzzling for those who have it and for the doctors who treat it. Reeta suffered from alternating bowel movements - diarrhoea and constipation - disturbed sleep, bloating, flatulence and other symptoms. After several hypnotherapy sessions and the use of specially prepared CDs, she was feeling much better and the symptoms were becoming less frequent.

As a result she felt much happier, slept better and became more focused on the things she wanted to do without constantly thinking abour food. Her relationship with her husband has improved and she is generally more positive in her outlook on life.