Body Talk

THE LATEST RESEARCH SUGGESTS PAIN OF MANY KINDS MAY HAVE ITS ROOTS IN THE MIND. WE EXPLAIN THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE AND YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND HOW YOU CAN SOOTHE YOURSELF

Tackle tummy troubles

The community of bacteria that live in your gut – your microbiome – ‘talks’ to your brain. When you think about that, it’s not surprising your emotional state tends to make itself known through your bowels, from butterflies when you’re nervous to cramps when you’re stressed.

“The gut deserves to be listened to – if you’re in discomfort, it’s probably trying to tell you something,” says psychogastroenterologist Dr Yoram Inspector.

If you’ve always been prone to anxiety, you may be more likely to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research suggests that people who experienced early-life trauma, such as a parent’s death or long-term bullying, are more likely to develop IBS as an adult. And a study from University College Cork has found childhood stress may affect the balance of your gut bacteria, which could predispose you to IBS as an adult.