IBS: a disorder of the gut brain axis.

Every week in clinic, I meet people carrying invisible burdens, grief, trauma, frustration. Many arrive after years of unanswered questions and missed moments, lives narrowed by relentless symptoms. IBS can feel like a thief, stealing certainty, spontaneity, joy.

But IBS is not “just in your head.” It’s real. It’s life-altering.

As a dietitian, I don’t offer quick fixes. I offer a partnership: walking alongside patients, rebuilding trust with food, exploring triggers, patterns, and emotions. Sometimes the first step is small, one food, one change, one thought.

IBS requires patience, empathy, listening. It might mean a low FODMAP diet, gut-directed hypnotherapy, or healing past traumas. No two stories are the same, but every story deserves to be heard.

If you’re navigating IBS, know this: you are not alone. With the right support, there is hope, healing, and a life beyond fear.

And to my fellow clinicians: thank you for choosing compassion over quick fixes, and for believing in food as part of healing.