As a Personal Growth Mentor, my aim with clients is to encourage them to explore all aspects of their lives and consider how they can optimise their well-being. Because my journey started on the yoga mat I know that we can’t look at mind and body in isolation. We need to look at the organism as a whole.
Recently I saw this quote by Functional Medicine doctor, Dr Mark Hyman:
“Your gut flora listens to and becomes influenced by your thoughts and feelings. This is why stress contributes to gut imbalances.”
Now, your gut doesn’t speak English (or French or German either) but it “listens” through your nervous system. Your nervous system (sadly) also doesn’t speak English and it listens to the reactions of your body. So when you start worrying about a conversation you had with your boss last week and your palms feel clammy and your heart rate increases… your nervous system thinks you’re being chased by a tiger and tells your gut as much.
Needless to say, gut microbiome is not a priority when you’re being chased by a tiger.
This is why stress management is such a vital part of managing your gut health.
If you recognise one of these three symptoms then maybe it’s time to slow down and focus on how your mental health is affecting your gut health (and vice versa):
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome flare ups
Often during stressful times people have flare ups of IBS symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea or constipation - Digestion complaints
Stress can hinder the production of digestive enzymes and stomach acid leading to diarrhoea or constipation or a noticeable change in bowel habits - Cognitive function
You may find that you become forgetful during times of stress due to gut imbalances. You may feel “foggy” or less able to concentrate
It’s not all doom and gloom though, there is a lot we can do to manage our stress and this is where my passion lies. For example various relaxation therapies can be used to reduce your automatic reactions to stress (think specific forms of yoga and breathwork, visualisation techniques and even non-sleep-deep-rest techniques). In addition, various cognitive behavioural therapies help us to start changing our thought patterns and emotion responses. This is where my experience as a neurolinguistic programming and compassionate-inquiry coach comes in.
One simple way to slow down during times of stress is this very accessible breathing practise:
- Inhale through your nose as much breath as you can manage
- Now take in another tiny sip of air
- Exhale fully out through the mouth
- Continue with this for 3 minutes or until you feel calm.
Of course, as a long term solution we need to really think about how we manage our gut health and working with a registered nutritionist or dietitian is a great place to start. Then we need to think about how we manage our mental health, not as emergency care but rather as preventative care: What are the things you are doing every day to support your mental well-being?
Remember, your health is in your hands, think of your daily wellness practice as a savings account, the more you put in, the more you get out.
Denise Sohandev is a Personal Growth Mentor, with a passion for guiding women to create a life they love. As a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, Yoga Therapist, and NLP Master Coach she views the body as a gateway for healing the mind. Since her mind/body journey began in 1999 she has been studying and interpreting the sometimes esoteric teachings of ancient yogic philosophies and practices, as a means to support women as they identify and overcome the imprinted beliefs, thoughts and behaviours that limit them from fulfilling their potential. She believes every woman can be empowered to live a joyful, rich and meaningful life as they uncover and embody their own unique purpose. Denise is a wife, mother and eternal student navigating the flow of life. Find out more here.
