Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a frustrating condition that many have had to silently deal with. I know because I have lived with it for the majority of my life. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I learned to manage this condition enough to keep it from controlling my life.

I can still see the look on my mother’s face when I’d tell her ‘I’m constipated with diarrhea’. Bloating along with excruciating pain cursing through the bowels are symptoms an IBS sufferer knows well. There is a strong need to eliminate but you’re unable to do so as the pain continues to rage inside. Eventually, usually hours later, relief from the pain finally comes but with a price. Violent Diarrhea leaves you feeling weak and clammy.

In my experience the majority of the episodes came late at night. Until you understand what is happening to your body it can be very frightening. Doctors aren’t sure what causes IBS but believe the symptoms have to do with signals from the brain that effect how the muscles in the intestines move.

We do know there are some things that often precede a bout with IBS. Stress, hormone changes, certain foods, and even some medicines seem to influence irritable Bowel syndrome. Knowing what is happening and learning to manage your stress are crucial in dealing with this lifelong condition.

In my case eating green onions is sure to give me a night of suffering. As a teenager, stress was the main culprit for me. Always cheerful on the outside I would internalize my emotions.

Once I began to analyze what was causing the stress and learn constructive ways to deal with it, I was able to manage IBS. At this point in my life the episodes are few and far between. When I do have a flare up it is normally mild.