Finding Relief with IBS and IBD through the Nervous System

If you struggle with stomach pain, unpredictable digestion, bathroom anxiety, or the emotional stress that comes with IBS or IBD, you are not alone. Digestive struggles can feel embarrassing, exhausting, and isolating, especially when
it feels like your body has taken the wheel and you cannot trust it.

At inThrive Chiropractic here in Columbus, Ohio, we talk with patients every week who describe their lives being planned around symptoms instead of joy. And if you have ever caught yourself thinking about where the nearest bathroom is before thinking about the people you will see or the event you are going to, that emotional toll is real and deserves attention.

IBS vs IBD What Is the Difference

Digestive challenges show up differently depending on the diagnosis.

IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This is a dysregulated digestive system. Common symptoms include:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Gas
• Sensitivity to certain foods

IBD Irritable Bowel Disease

This has inflammation involved and sometimes bleeding. Common forms include:

• Crohns
• Ulcerative colitis
• More intense flare-ups and long-lasting symptoms

Why Stress Is Often a Major Trigger

One of the biggest and most overlooked patterns we see in Columbus patients is the emotional connection. Stress and anxiety can take mild symptoms and turn them into a flare. When IBD is in remission, a heavy period of stress can pull it right back out.

Common triggers include:

• Emotional stress
• Anxiety
• Poor sleep
• Food changes
• Illness
• Travel
• Big life events or unexpected overwhelm

Stress diverts energy away from digestion because digestion takes a significant amount of the body’s resources. When the nervous system is overloaded, digestion slows or becomes chaotic.

Other Symptoms Often Connected to IBS or IBD

Many people are surprised that digestive conditions do not only affect the gut. They can also create:

• Low back pain
• Leg pain
• Joint aches
• Fatigue
• Skin irritation or rash
• Sleep difficulty
• Brain fog

It is not “just a stomach problem.” Your nervous system and digestive system work together, and when one is overwhelmed, the other can follow.

Why a Chiropractor Is Talking About Digestion

You might be thinking, “Why would chiropractic matter for IBS or IBD?”

Because chiropractic does not treat symptoms. It supports the system that controls digestion, the nervous system.
In our Columbus office we measure nervous system stress through scans that detect:

• Inflammation
• Nervous system overload patterns
• Autonomic imbalance
• Stress dominance

For many patients with IBS or IBD, scans show elevated stress patterns, especially in the lower back, where digestive nerves connect.

When chiropractic adjustments calm and rebalance the nervous system, the body often shifts out of fight mode and back into rest and digest. Many people report:

• Fewer flare-ups
• Less pain
• Better sleep
• More predictable digestion
• Better stress response
• More confidence in daily activities

Helpful Support Strategies Alongside Chiropractic

While every case is unique, many individuals find improvement with:

• Clean fuel foods and an anti-inflammatory diet
• Juicing to support nutrient absorption
• Hydration
• Gentle exercise or movement
• Better sleep hygiene
• Slow deep breathing or nervous system calming practices

The goal is to help the body operate with less stress and more balance.

A Real Issue with a Real Emotional Weight

Some patients share that they avoid restaurants
or road trips
or church
or sports events
or meetings

because their brain is focused on one thing:

Where is the bathroom and will I make it?

If that is your reality, it can feel lonely. But you do not have to navigate it alone.