Two years ago, I was diagnosed with SIBO.
SIBO is a gut disorder where healthy gut bacteria migrate up into a section of intestine where they don’t belong. It manifests digestive symptoms like acid reflux, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea. In my case, I also developed mental anxiety, feelings of depression, and inability to sleep leading to fatigue.
The process to resolve this digestive system imbalance was long, complicated, and lonely. With help from a fellow practitioner, I was able to understand that SIBO has many causes, many solutions, and my detours.
Now, of course I already knew this – I have helped others with the same condition!
But I was unable to think clearly enough to come up with an effective plan that was simple enough for me fit it into my very overloaded schedule and still experience improved symptoms.
The reason I was unable to help myself is because of the gut-brain connection.
I needed an outside perspective.
It might seem strange that mental symptoms would manifest as a result of a gut-related issue.
To understand this connection, it’s helpful to first understand a special nerve inside our body called the vagus nerve. Vagus means ‘wandering’ and is the perfect name for this nerve. It’s a large, multi-tendril nerve that wanders throughout the body connecting every major organ. Its main job is connection for the purpose of communication. Thus the idea of gut-brain connection.
Like all symptoms and diseases, SIBO has multiple causes, multiple symptoms, and multiple solutions. Being able to identify my root causes for SIBO is what ultimately made it possible for me to recover.
And like magic, as my digestive symptoms subsided, so did my mental symptoms.
Common causes of SIBO are digestive dysfunction, imbalance in the body, and external sources like stress and poor diet. Remedies for SIBO include digestive support, herbal or anti-biotic courses, and food and lifestyle changes.
If you’re experiencing any gut or brain related symptoms and are looking for more information and support, I’ve created a new Facebook group for you! Check it out HERE.
