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However, at the time I started doing this, I had absolutely no idea just how much of a positive impact this practice was going to have on my IBS over the long term.
Now many months later, I am thrilled to announce that, thanks to a simple 20 minute routine several times a week, any IBS related anxiety I may have, is all but gone.
" I even go some days now
without even thinking about IBS! "
Meditation?
Isn't that for Monks, Hippies, and people who wear tye-dye clothing?
Err.. no!
I do appreciate that many people have all sorts of different pre-conceived ideas about meditation and what it means, or what is involved, I know - I was one of them!
However, most of these pre-conceptions are usually incorrect.
It is these misconceived ideas that reinforce people’s beliefs that they do not have what it takes to meditate, and prevents them from participating, and experiencing the benefits of it.
Meditation is quite simply the process of allowing your mind to go quiet by entering into a state of complete relaxation.
It is said that 20 minutes of quality meditation is the equivalent to 1 hour of deep REM sleep.
It can be achieved in many ways, but by far the best, most effective way for us here in the western world, comes in the form of ‘guided meditations’ - with these, virtually anyone can meditate successfully with zero effort.
What I'm talking about here is listening to pre-recorded meditation audio tracks.
These are guided meditations where you don't need to "do" anything. You simply lay on a bed or sit comfortably somewhere and listen, preferably through headphones.
With literally no effort on your part, these recordings will help you to achieve a blissfully deep state of relaxation.
No chanting, no sitting on the floor, and no praying to Buddha is required!
A Dreamy Paradise
Kev's original article was inspired when he came across a study suggesting that 80% of IBS anxiety sufferers who follow a regular meditation routine saw a marked improvement in their IBS symptoms.
Eager to put this theory to the test, I scoured the internet for some suitable guided meditation audio material, and stumbled across a company called Meditainment. They had a number of 20-minute-long guided meditations, which could be downloaded and listened to on a CD or mp3 player.I have to admit, I was quite impressed. The recordings were excellent. They had compelling music and 3D sound effects with a calming, well-spoken voice that guided me through descriptions of a dreamy paradise. In no time at all it actually felt like I was there.
Listening to this material has become a true pleasure, and I genuinely look forward to engaging with it as often as I can.
At the end of each session I feel cocooned in a deep state of blissful calmness, so much so, that I just want to stay there and enjoy it some more! Quite often the meditation audio gets me so relaxed, that I'll fall asleep during the session.
Thinking about it, I can't recall a single time where I have been unsuccessful in reaching a deep state of relaxation when using these meditation audio recordings.
I've noticed that I seem to wake from the sessions with a renewed sense of vigour and energy that lasts for the rest of the day. Over time I've also started to notice additional benefits, such as clearer thinking, better concentration, better sleep patterns, lower stress, more creativity, greater patience, better relationships, and an over all general improvement in health.
A Calm Mind = A Calm Gut!
Setting aside the pleasurable listening experience for a moment, what's more important, and what I didn't realise when I first started listening to these recordings, is that by going into a deep state of relaxation on a regular basis, over a period of several months, I have in fact, been re-training my mind to become much calmer in its natural resting state. This calmer mind has now become a more permanent part of me.
Without any conscious effort, apart from regularly listening to these meditation audio recordings, I have managed to lower my natural anxiety 'default' levels, and this has had a very positive impact on my general IBS symptoms.
A calmer mind means a calmer gut - and it's half the battle won.
These days, I am in a semi-permanent state of calmness, even when fully awake and alert, it's a much calmer, much more focused alertness.
My Conclusion?
Does listening to guided meditations provide tangible, noticeable relief for IBS-related anxiety symptoms, and can it cause a reduction in the general symptoms of IBS?
I would have to say a resounding yes! Absolutely! No question about it.
If done regularly (say 3-5 days per week) over a period of months, I'm convinced that most IBS sufferers who experience anxiety symptoms, will have noticeable degrees of success with this technique, and are likely to see a considerable reduction in their over-all stress levels, as well as experience a reduction in their more general IBS symptoms.
No Pills, Drugs or side-effects!
On top of that, this treatment is about as natural as it gets. No drugs, no bad or adverse reactions, and the only side effect is a calmer, more focused state of mind and a healthier body.
If you’re not thrilled about the idea of popping pills, then I suggest this has got to be worth a try.
My advice to anyone who suffers with anxiety symptoms caused by IBS, or who has anxiety symptoms in general, would be to start trying this technique right away! The sooner you get started, the sooner you are likely be experiencing a considerably calmer mind, body and gut.
But remember, even though you may experience a great sense of calmness right from the very first audio session, it is only through prolonged and regular use of meditation (I would suggest over several months at least) that you will start to see a more permanent reduction in your anxiety and stress levels, and an improvement in your general IBS symptoms.
Getting the Routine Right
As I said earlier, I use a wide variation of the 20-minute long meditation audio recordings from a company called Meditainment. These guys have, in my honest opinion, produced some of the highest quality, most professional-sounding recordings I have ever heard. If you want to hear just how good they are, they are giving away a totally free guided meditation track - see the banner below this text block.
There are other guided meditation audio recording suppliers out there, but be careful to check the length of any meditation audio tracks you may decide to buy. Some meditation audio recordings can go on for 40 minutes to an hour, which might make you think you are getting more for your money, but the practicality of building a regular 40 - 60 minute long routine into your day is for many people, highly impractical.
If the audio recordings are too long, it will quickly begin to feel like a chore, and you will find it difficult to maintain as a regular routine. Most people will give up quickly under these circumstances.
It is important to create a routine that will be easy to stick with.
20 minutes a day is just perfect - long enough to get good quality results, but not so long that it disrupts your day in any significant way.
I do it about 3-5 times a week and have had some fantastic results. In fact I enjoy it so much, that I look forward to these sessions, and feel like I’ve missed out on something great if I don't do them.
Finally, if your normal day is such that it can not afford you just 20 minutes of 'me' time, then all I can say is - no wonder you have IBS!
Perhaps it's time you made some life-changing decisions and took some steps to change things for the sake of your long-term health?
Enjoy the free meditation track below......
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