IBS - HOLDING STRESS: How To Release Stress Held in Our Abdomen
- 🍃The Body Sanctuary🍃
- Aug 5, 2024
- 9 min read
IBS - WHAT IS IT?
Painful, tight bloating. Looking like you are 5 months pregnant :-( Feeling uncomfortable in your body, and yes - 'Irritable' ? No wonder! IBS or - Irritable bowel syndrome - can be painful, unpleasant and frustrating. It is a more and more common aliment that affects the stomach and intestines causing: cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is considered a chronic condition that needs managing long term. Nobody seems to have a clear medical reason on what causes IBS in the first place, some say food intolerances; diet, certain bacteria's. Having suffered with it myself, i'd say one of the main ROOT causes is STRESS.
And, so most importantly - How can we allieviate the symptoms? And how can we release stress held in our abdomen? And how can we even go a step deeper - to the ROOT CAUSE of the stress, so that we can hopefully stop experiencing it altogether, or at least reduce the frequency of flare ups ?
What Causes IBS in the First Place ?
One, we live in a world today that is increasingly fast-paced, when we are constantly having to rush from one task or place to another sometimes we loose sight of, and connection to, our bodies desired rhythms, energy levels, and preferred pace. This in itself can lead to a build up of stress in our bodies. When we are rushed, we often don't have time to feel what we feel, process any of our emotions, or listen to the subtle cues our body is giving us constantly - instead we have to just push on past them, and do what the day, or our work and life, demands of us.
When we do this consistently however, we end up stuffing all of those ignored feelings, emotions and cues deeper into our bodies. And our bodies store them. Waiting patiently for the moment we can and will feel them. If we don't, or can't, our bodies will hold onto them. The build up of these is what often causes us the feeling of - STRESS.
It gives us no surprise that many of us experience stress in various parts of our bodies, shoulders, jaw, and particularly the abdomen are common areas. Interestingly enough the abdomen, in esoteric thought, is thought of to be the seat of our emotions ( sacral chakra ), so it is no suprise that many of our unfelt emotions would be held here.
The abdomen, often referred to as our "second brain," plays a crucial role in our overall well-being.
For those living in Gozo or Malta, seeking a unique and holistic approach to their wellness, understanding the connection between stress, emotions and our gut health can be a transformative first step in learning how to resolve it.
This blog is here to show you how stress affects our abdomen, the vagus nerve gut-brain connection, and how somatic therapy and certain types of massage therapies can help you to release this stress and understand where its coming from, leading to a healthier, more balanced life.
From the SOMATIC PERSPECTIVE - Unfelt emotions; Holding onto our feelings; Not speaking out and owning our truth; The trauma-responses of fawning or freeze; Not feeling safe; Not feeling safe to have or express our authentic feelings and emotions; People pleasing patterns; and fear of setting boundaries - are some KEY denominators and root causes of stress held in our abdomen.
The Gut-Brain Connection
The relationship between our gut and brain, known as the gut-brain axis, is a complex and fascinating one. The vagus nerve, a key player in this connection, acts as a communication highway between the brain and the digestive system. When we're stressed, this nerve can become overstimulated, leading to issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and general abdominal discomfort. This phenomenon is often referred to as "stress felt in the stomach."
This shows up very clearly - when, for example, we are excited and have butterflys in our belly, or nervous and anxious and have a sudden urge to use the bathroom!
How Stress Affects the Vagus Nerve and Gut Health
Stress, and being under pressure, triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that, when elevated, can disrupt the balance of bacteria in our gut. This disruption can lead to digestive issues, inflammation, and a compromised immune system. For many, these symptoms manifest as IBS, characterized by bloating, cramping, and irregular bowel movements. This is a clear indicator of how unprocessed or unreleased stress can impact our physical health, particularly in the gut area.
Increasing cortisol levels also decrease the flow of blood and oxygen to your stomach, and other abdominal organs, which is what can cause sudden stomach cramps and pain.
The vagus nerve is one of the main nerves of your parasympathetic nervous system. Your parasympathetic nervous system is your rest & digest system. It is activated through relaxation, long deep breathing and sound - sighing, or toning. And it is what controls specific body functions - such as your digestion, heart rate, reproductive system and immune system.
As you can see - if our bodies do not get adaquate time to relax, digest and process, the body will stay in -stress mode- , which affects the blood flow and oxygen to your abdominal organs, causing many of the symptoms associated with IBS.
The Instinctual Brain and Trauma Storage
Our gut is home to what is often called our "instinctual brain." This part of us is highly sensitive and can pick up cues from our environment that our conscious, everyday level mind might miss.
People with a sensitive nervous system, or who have stored unprocessed trauma, often find that their instinctual bodies are on high alert, constantly scanning for danger. This is a survival mechanism of your nervous system - its highest intention is to just keep you safe, and alive! This state of hyper-vigilance and unsafety however, can lead to chronic tension, particularly in the abdominal area, as the body remains in a state of contraction or blockage, perpetually on standby to move into fight or flight response ( your sympathetic nervous system ). Your sympathetic nervous system is the opposite to your para-sympathtic nervous system.
Where your para-sympathetic nervous system functions optimally in restful, relaxed states, your sympathetic nervous system is the one charged and ready for action - ready to fight off primordial 'tigers' in the jungle, or run for its life from a bear.
Whilst there may be no tigers or bears to contend with on a daily basis ;) our survival brain was developed over millions of years, and doesnt really destinguish between a toxic, angry boss and a bear, or between the over-stimulation of busy traffic, and having to watch young children in the jungle and ensure a predator doesnt eat them!!
Whilst the things it picks up may not be logical, our instinctual brain is actually very smart. It knows what, and who, and which environments and which conversations etc are good for us, and which are NOT!
Sometimes its good to start listening.
Understanding Emotional Fluidity and the Sacral Chakra
Our emotions are simply energy in motion: e-motions, and when they are not able to be felt or processed properly, or able to flow and move, they can become trapped in our bodies.
This is particularly true for emotions stored in the abdominal area, which is closely linked to the sacral and solar chakras. Our sacral chakra, in estoteric healing traditions, is associated with our creative energy, our sexual energy and reproductive health, our relationships and our emotions, it is a powerful energy center that can become easily blocked by stress and trauma. For women, this area is especially significant, as it includes our womb and ovaries—often overlooked in traditional therapies, but central to our physical, emotional and energetic well-being. You can find out more about Womb Health and work on this specific area, in this upcoming BLOG.
Our solar plexus chakra, around our diaphram area, is also responsible for the alchemy of our emotional energy in our sense of power, position, vitaity and self-esteem etc.
Chi Nei Tsang: Healing Through Abdominal Massage
By now you must be asking - 'OK! But what can i do about all this??!' And the good news is, your health IS in your hands.
Chi Nei Tsang, an ancient Taoist abdominal massage technique, offers a holistic approach to releasing stored emotions and improving energy and blood flow in your abdomen, and in each specific organ.
This technique focuses on the navel center, where many of our physical, emotional, and spiritual energies converge. By massaging the abdomen and the internal organs, Chi Nei Tsang helps you to release stored and built up tension; to feel and release old layers of emotional energy stored there; to detoxify your organs, and to restore balance to the body's energy systems.
I am trained in this technique under the guidance of Master Mantak Chia, a renowned Taoist Alchemy Master and practitioner. This therapy not only addresses the physical symptoms and aspects of stress relates IBS, but also supports emotional release, making it an ideal treatment also for those dealing with underlying chronic stress or trauma.
A one off treatment can help you with symptoms such as bloating, gas and constipation and offer some relief. However if you have chronic and persistant episodes of IBS, or similar symptoms, you would be much better off integrating these treatments into part of your holistic self-care regime, and figuring out what some of your triggers and the root causes are. I incorporate my Somatic Therapy work into my Chi-Nei-Tsang Treatments so that we can do just this, and help you get to the heart of what is happening in your body.
The Role of Somatic Techniques
Incorporating Somatic Techniques into Chi-Nei-Tsang can further enhance the healing process. These methods help to calm and rebalance your nervous system, shifting it from sympathetic dominance ( fight or flight response ) to parasympathetic predominance ( rest and digest state ). I will teach you specific deep breathing techniques, alchemy meditations, and the use of specific seed sounds for the organs which can help release blocked emotional energy, and tone your vagus nerve. These are things you can then use in your daily life, along side some yoga postures for better energy flow and daily stress relief.
Body-Dialoguing, if appropriate, is a profound tool, which i use in my Somatic Inner-Alchemy guidance work, and helps you to find the root causes, and then do any inner-resolution and healing work as needed. You can find out more about this work specifically HERE.
Specific Treatments for Women
For women, the womb and pelvic area are crucial. These regions can hold a significant amount of emotional, personal, sexual and ancestral trauma. As receptive beings we can often also carry the energy, traumas and emotional imprints of male partners we have been intimate with here too. In my practice, I offer specialized Somatic Womb Healing sessions that focus exclusively on these areas ( external work only ), providing a safe space for women to explore and release deeply held emotions and clear the energies here.
Elemental Theory and Balance
Chi Nei Tsang aligns with the elemental theory of TCM, balancing the five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—within us. This balance is essential not only for physical health but also for our mental and emotional well-being. When we harmonise these elements, we can achieve a state of inner balance and harmony, which is great for helping our nervous system stay relaxed. A relaxed nervous system allows us to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and resilience.
TO BOOK a Chi-Nei-Tsang Session with me, or to make an enquiry about what work may be best for you, simply click on the link below. You can read more about Chi-Nei-Tsang Sessions HERE
Your Path to Inner Holistic Wellness
We hope you enjoyed this blog, and found some helpful and useful information ☺️ For those of you living in, or visiting Gozo, & seeking a new path to healing - the integration of Somatic Therapies and Chi Nei Tsang can offer you a unique and powerful approach. By addressing the physical manifestations of stress in the abdomen and promoting emotional fluidity and deeper level healing, these therapies can help provide you with a comprehensive solution to problems here. Whilst no true healing journey is a quick fix, it can definitely help you with symptom relief, and if you are able to go deeper, a journey to inner healing and transformation.
I too used to suffer from regular and painful bouts of IBS symptoms, and whilst i still occasionally do, they are so much less frequent. I also know what to do now to help my nervous system and body if i do get symptoms. And i also understand that my body is signalling that there is something to pay attention to, that i am not comfortable or ok with. Then i can make any changes to that and prioritise my inner-wellbeing. 😊
To truly benefit from these therapies, I do recommend a series of treatments. Whether you're dealing with chronic stress, trauma, or simply seeking a deeper connection with your body, these holistic approaches offer you a path through this.
Remember - your health is in YOUR hands. Let us guide you towards a more balanced, vibrant, and stress-free, happy life.
All of my work is Trauma-Informed
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If you came across this blog and are not in Malta or Gozo, you can still benefit from many aspects of this work with my ONLINE Somatic Inner Alchemy Healing Sessions. I do this work with clients all over the world, and it is highly effective. All you need is your body. To Find Out More:
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