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More about gut-directed hypnotherapy

It’s not all in your head - but it can start in your mind

Let’s get your gut and brain working with you, not against you.

The 4 Types of IBS - and a treatment that works across all of them

If you’ve been told you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you might also have heard that there are different “types” of IBS. This can feel confusing, especially if your symptoms change over time. 

Doctors usually group IBS into four main categories, depending on your most common bowel symptoms:

• IBS-C (Constipation type) - stools are often hard or lumpy, and going to the toilet can feel difficult or infrequent.
• IBS-D (Diarrhoea type) - loose or watery stools are more common, often with urgency.
• IBS-M (Mixed type) - sometimes constipation, sometimes diarrhoea, with symptoms swinging between the two.
• IBS-U (Unclassified type) - where you have IBS symptoms, but they don’t neatly fit into one of the other categories.

When it comes to diet or medication, you’ll likely be offered different medication or diet advice

• People with IBS-C might be advised to increase their fibre or take certain laxatives.
• Those with IBS-D may be advised to use anti-diarrhoea medications or to avoid specific food triggers.
• With IBS-M or IBS-U, treatment will depend on which symptoms are showing up at the time.

So, while the labels help guide medical and dietary approaches, IBS may not stay in one box forever, and some people notice their symptoms shift or vary over time.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy helps people with all IBS types

This is because it works on the gut–brain connection - that two-way communication between your digestive system and your nervous system. When that system gets out of balance, symptoms appear, whether that’s constipation, diarrhoea, or both.

Because GDH works on calming the nervous system and easing stress, it can: 

• Help reduce gut sensitivity
• Help regulate bowel movements (whether things move too quickly or too slowly).
• Reduce bloating, pain, and discomfort.
• Break the cycle of stress and IBS symptoms fuelling each other.

So, regardless of the type of IBS you have – or if your symptoms change – gut-directed hypnotherapy can help, because it doesn’t just target one symptom. Rather, it helps bring your whole system back into balance.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that your IBS symptoms don’t stay the same, take heart - you don’t have to keep chasing treatments for each change. By working with your gut–brain connection, you can improve your symptoms and feel more in control, whichever type of IBS you’re dealing with.

Ready to start your journey to gut-health confidence?