Stress may play a role in many gastrointestinal conditions because it can affect the nervous system’s coordination of key bodily processes, including gut function.
So addressing both stress and IBS may improve your symptoms and quality of life.
This article discusses how IBS is caused by stress and how to treat both conditions.
Can IBS be caused by stress?
Research states that stress may cause IBS for some people. Stress may also trigger IBS flare-ups or worsened symptoms.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also suggests that stressful or difficult events in childhood, such as abuse, may contribute to IBS.
However, the exact cause of IBS is unknown. IBS likely occurs due to a combination of factors, which may include:
- some mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety
- bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract
- small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- food sensitivities or intolerances
- genetic susceptibility
As a result, stress may not cause IBS on its own. Still, research is needed to understand why some people develop IBS in response to stress while others don’t.
Learn more about what can trigger IBS flare-ups
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The link between stress and the gut
The brain and gut interact and help coordinate each other’s functions — a relationship known as the gut-brain axis.
Stress may affect the gut-brain axis and contribute to IBS in the following ways:
- Gut function: Nervous system stress responses may affect gut function, such as by changing gut motility. Gut motility is the speed at which food and waste move through the gastrointestinal tract.
- Microbiota: Stress responses in the nervous system may affect the gut microbiota, the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut. An imbalance in the gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, may contribute to IBS development.
- Serotonin levels: Mood disorders and stress can affect serotonin levels. Changes in serotonin levels may contribute to IBS symptoms. For example, higher serotonin levels may increase gut motility, leading to diarrhea and pain.
Symptoms of IBS and stress
Stress can be linked to specific IBS symptoms, such as:
- changes in how quickly food moves through the digestive system and how quickly you have bowel movements
- increased gut permeability, which can lead to diarrhea
- abdominal pain
Talk with a doctor if you notice changed, new, or persistent gastrointestinal symptoms.
Learn more about IBS symptoms.
Managing stress may improve your IBS symptoms. Stress management techniques that can help include:
- trying meditation or deep breathing exercises
- getting regular physical activity
- following a meal plan as recommended by a doctor or a dietitian
- getting enough good quality sleep
- limiting alcohol intake
- trying psychotherapy or counseling
- getting rest when possible
- trying to include enjoyable activities and social interaction daily
- practicing time management skills, such as using a calendar
- asking your doctor about treatment options, such as anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications
Addressing causes or triggers of stress can also help. If you’re unsure of your stress triggers, the following steps may help you find out:
- Keep a daily symptom diary and record your activities, symptoms, and feelings.
- Work with a psychotherapist or counselor.
- Try eliminating possible stressors one at a time and seeing the effects.
Doctors may also recommend additional treatment to help your IBS symptoms — especially if other causes or triggers play a role.
Read more about IBS treatment options.
Due to the connections between stress and IBS, psychotherapy is a critical treatment approach for IBS.
Psychotherapies that may relieve IBS include:
- Psychoeducation: provides in-depth education about a health condition
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: involves reworking thoughts and behaviors that may not help your mental health
- Psychodynamic therapy: analyzes and addresses unconscious thoughts and behaviors
- Hypnotherapy: uses hypnosis to improve concentration and attention and address mental health symptoms
- Mindfulness and relaxation therapies: improves awareness and management of automatic emotional responses
A 2020 review notes that psychotherapy may help IBS even when it is not linked to stress or mental health conditions.
In some cases, stress can cause, trigger, or worsen symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by affecting gut function. However, multiple factors may cause IBS. Research into the cause of IBS is ongoing.
If you notice worse symptoms due to stress, meditation, a tailored diet, and regular physical activity may help. Psychotherapy can also be effective at improving both stress and IBS.
Talk with a doctor if you have any questions about stress or IBS.