Just Breathing Helps IBS

In the quest for some relief from IBS symptoms, I think we’ll all agree that we will try almost anything.

After trying a variety of medications, different types of doctors, teas, foods, snake oils, and panaceas, I decided to try something simple, tried and true.

Trying meditation and mindfulness

The concepts of mindfulness and meditation are the centerpiece of Eastern philosophy, and I have been practicing them (OFF AND ON) for about 25 years.

I will keep things as high level as possible. I don’t think going to any extremes is really the way to get any relief in the short term. If the ideas interest you and they seem to help, then please, by all means, do some research, join a group, and take the journey further. In the meantime, let me just take you through some of my journey.

Calming the overthinking and over-analyzing

When we are sick and alone, we find ourselves living in our own heads. Minutes feel like hours, hours like days. The more time you have to analyze all of the things in your life, good and bad, over analysis can become an inevitability.

When this happens, problems get bigger and more complicated. You begin to worry more, due to your health or isolation, because you feel that you cannot control or ‘fix’ these huge problems.

This is where mindfulness and staying in the moment becomes really important. No jumping forward to the issues of tomorrow, or dwelling on how bad a day you might have had yesterday. Just the here and now. If you find yourself too much in your head, ruminating about this or that, your best bet is to return to your breath. Breathing exercises are the beginning of meditation. Sometimes thats all meditation needs to be, depending on the person. Returning to the most basic thing is life, the breath, can do wonders for the worry.

Many ways to meditate

Meditation is not a holy man sitting on top of a mountain. Say it with me, ‘Meditation is not a holy man...’. You get it.

There are many ways to meditate. I dare say there is something for everyone if you do a little research. If you have never tried it, start by finding yourself somewhere quiet (or with soothing music) that you can sit comfortably. No need to tie yourself into a pretzel.

Follow your breath. As thoughts arise, as they will do, acknowledge the fact that you had the thought, but immediately move back to your breath.

Never tell yourself you are ‘not good’ at meditation. You are not trying to find paradise; you are trying to calm yourself. Sit for as long as you are comfortable and call it a day. Trust me, if you do this several times over the course of a week or month, you will find yourself sitting for longer and longer periods gradually.

As important as diet and exercise

Mindfulness and mediation are as important to me as medication, exercise, diet and everything else I do to manage my IBS and to maintain my overall health. Nothing like sitting with yourself in a comfortable place (I like outside if its nice), breathing calmly and then having one of those great teas we all love so much.

It's really, really rewarding if you are open to the ideas involved. Give it a try. You might find it rewarding. What do you have to lose other than more unneeded conversation with yourself.