One of the hardest parts of having IBS and other digestive disorders can be talking about it. If you have ever struggled to talk about your digestive health, this article is for you.
Let’s Talk About Digestive Health
I used to be so embarrassed to talk about my digestive issues! That might be surprising, considering I have a website focused on digestion. Trust me when I say, I was not always comfortable talking about my gut. Learning how to talk about digestive health really helped to improve my well-being.
Sadly there is some stigma when it comes to talking about certain health topics. Mental health was taboo for a long time, but luckily has become more normalised to discuss. I believe the same trend is happening with digestive health!
It’s important to be able to communicate our health needs with those around us. For example, we need to describe symptoms to a doctor, or explain food intolerances to servers.
My Journey with IBS
Back when I was first diagnosed with IBS in 2014, it even felt hard talking about it with my doctor. This ended up being a problem because it took a while for my doctor to understand just how bad my IBS symptoms were! At the same time, not talking about my IBS, and burying it deep inside, increased my feelings of shame.
The first step to get more comfortable talking about gut health was opening up to someone I trusted. My parents were the first people who gave me a safe space to discuss my health. Having an outlet to discuss my feelings helped to release the shame I held inside.
Over time, I slowly told more friends and family about my IBS, and experienced support and empathy. I realized I didn’t have to be ashamed about my medical condition. Every time I talked about my health, I felt more comfortable and less ashamed. I’m lucky now that I use nutrition to keep my symptoms well controlled.
Finding Support
A Registered Dietitian who specializes in digestive health is a great resource for IBS. You can get support with using nutrition to modify your diet. Click here to learn more about my nutrition counseling services. You can also find a list of dietitians in the Monash University Low FODMAP Diet app.
Therapy can be a valuable support for learning to talk about your health. Therapists and counsellors can offer a safe space to talk about uncomfortable topics. Some therapists even offer gut directed therapy to help improve the mind-gut connection.
One resource for finding therapists in your area is Psychology Today. Their website has a search tool to help you find services in your area. If you have health insurance, you can check to see if they have a list of providers in your area.
Online Support
Something else that helped me was joining online IBS support groups. I met lovely people from around the world who had similar struggles. It was great having proof that I was not alone!
Today I am proud to run my Facebook group Low FODMAP Canadians. Anyone living in Canada can join for free anytime. We recently surpassed 7000 members! It is a supportive group to ask questions, or read posts with tips or recipes.
If you aren’t in Canada, I recommend the world wide group Low FODMAP Recipes and Support. Their admin team includes people from all over the world.
Conclusion
I hope this post is a reminder that you aren’t alone and there are many supports out there to help! The more you practice talking about your health, the easier it can get and the better you can feel.
