What is GI Psychology?

Finding the right medication or making a change in diet helps many people. For others, that's either not enough, or they're looking for options beyond medication. This is where GI psychology can help.

The field of psychogastroenterology (or GI psychology for short) is used at leading medical centers to help patients build skills that improve their symptoms and how they cope with them.

The Gut-Brain Connection

The brain and the digestive system are closely connected through what's called the gut-brain axis, or gut-brain connection. In medicine, the digestive system is often called the gut for short.

Stress is a factor in any chronic health condition, but for digestive disorders it plays an especially direct role. Stress and anxiety can worsen GI symptoms, and for most people, the symptoms themselves become a source of stress.

That can create a loop, sometimes called the GI Stress Cycle, where stress worsens symptoms and symptoms create more stress. The first step in interrupting that loop is recognizing it.

For many people, medical treatment is essential but not sufficient on its own. GI psychology is one part of a fuller approach to treating GI disorders, alongside medical care and diet. See Where to Start →

A diagram showing the connection between the brain and the intestines, with an arrow indicating a cyclical relationship.

Why Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection Matters

Imagine your gut and brain as two best friends who constantly chat, influencing each other's moods and decisions. 

Just as your friend's happiness can uplift you, or their stress can weigh you down, so it goes with your gut and brain. They communicate constantly, with each affecting the other's well-being.

For people with digestive issues, the gut-brain connection is important to understand for the following reasons:

  • Stress or anxiety can make gut symptoms worse. Have you ever noticed a connection between particularly stressful periods in your life and a worsening of your digestive symptoms?  

    Most people do & it's not a coincidence.  It's the dark side of gut-brain connection in action.

  • As we just noted, stress & anxiety can aggravate the GI symptoms.   For most people digestive symptoms themselves can be a significant source of stress. 

    This can then lead to a vicious, negative feedback loop often referred to as “the GI stress cycle”. 

  • The first step to be able to break these the negative cycles is to begin to become aware of them.   

    For many people medical treatment is essential, but not sufficient.  Meaning, that medical care is essential but medical care alone is often not enough and only gives partial relief. When the bigger picture other factors are understood it lets someone take on a more comprehensive approach to treatment & management.

    By learning about the gut-brain connection, people with digestive disorders gain valuable insights into the intricate dance of their body and mind. It empowers them to understand what other treatment options are available that can address the root causes, not just the symptoms.

    It provides a roadmap for more effective and comprehensive healing strategies.

Is GI Psychology Right for You?

Research has shown that there are some particular struggles that mind-body tools are best equipped to help with.  Here’s a short ‘quiz’ to see if the mind-body tools of GI psych would likely help you.

    • Do you find it difficult to relax or calm down when stressed?

    • Do you often feel overwhelmed?

    • Do you rely on avoidance or distraction to cope with stress?

    • Do you often feel “on edge” or need a long time to calm down after becoming stressed?

    • Are your muscles frequently tense, or do you have trouble relaxing physically?

    • Do you often experience symptoms like a racing heart, cold sweats, or tremors in stressful situations?

    • Do you worry excessively about your GI symptoms?

    • Does fear or worry about your symptoms get in the way of you living your life?

    • Are you overly attentive or sensitive to bodily sensations in your GI tract?

    • If pain is a significant symptom for you & it’s getting in the way of your life

    • If you struggle with depression or anxiety

    • If you’ve had trauma or abuse in your life & emotions are hard to control and/or relationships are difficult to manage

These are indicators that the concepts & tools of GI psych could be helpful for you.