Irritable bowel syndrome affects every part of your life but also affects the lives of those close to you like you partner, your children and even your friends. See what you can do about it in this video.
The Effect of IBS on Relationships
Today, I’m going to talk to you about the effect that IBS has on your relationships.
I deal with a lot of clients who come through my business, and so many of them have problems in their family life, in particular, and also problems with friends. And those problems are created by their IBS, not by the people concerned and not by themselves.
With the friends, it’s all about not being able to socialize with them as much as you would like. They invite you out for dinner at a moment’s notice. You haven’t got time to investigate the restaurant or ring them up and check on the menu and perhaps talk to the chef about what you could eat. Anything spontaneous like that just sends chills through your body. And the other thing is relationships within your family. They have to live with you constantly, with your issues. And your issues affect everybody around you and in particular your family. If you’re miserable, the family is miserable. It’s as simple as that. And you can be stoical and not complain, but they’re still going to feel the lack of joy in you.
As soon as you get these problems sorted, obviously through the low FODMAP diet, which is the only scientifically proven way to eliminate your IBS symptoms, then your family is going to be affected so positively by this. So it’s not just your life you’re saving, you’re saving theirs as well. Your children will grow up with a parent who is joyful and happy instead of constantly sad and unable to participate in family outings and get-togethers. I’m sure your spouse is wonderfully supportive, but they must get tired of you complaining or unable to go out for dinner or unable to go on a family outing. It has to wear them down with time. So they will be very supportive if you try to get some help and to incorporate this diet.
In fact, I’ve got a couple of quotes from clients after they did my program. Listen to what Rachel said, “After some convincing of my husband, who realized how much I’ve been struggling to find things to eat, I joined the program, and just the other day, he said that it was life changing for me. Calm belly, calm mind.” And that’s what it’s all about, a calm mind, so that you can enjoy life and participate in everything, and that will bring so much more joy to your family life.
Dave Williams sent me an e-mail one day, and this is what he wrote. “On Saturday, my wife and I took a three hour drive to the ocean. This is the first drive beyond 45 minutes that I’ve taken in the last two years and the only recreationally-oriented drive beyond 15 minutes. We’re planning additional trips. I have much more energy.” So just imagine how that also affects the wife, who can now do the things that she wants to do with her husband and doesn’t have to either do them alone or give up on doing them completely to stay with him and be supportive of him with his issues.
So I urge you, for the sake of your families and your friends, to go on the low FODMAP diet. If you need some help with that, please do get in touch with me. You’ll see on the screen, the link, where you can fill in an application form for the coaching. This means that I’ll give you a call, and we’ll have a chat about it. This is completely obligation free. The phone call is free as well. We have to check to see if you would suit the program and then we take it from there. Perhaps go and fill in that application form if you think you can’t do this diet by yourself and improve not just your life, but that of your family and your friends.
It’s terrible that there isn’t a magic cure for IBS but it’s fantastic that by following this diet, there’s hope and relief of symptoms. Happy Easter to you and all your family, Suzanne xx
I hope one day there will be a cure but not yet. There is a lot of research happening though, so that is the good news. I hope you had a great Easter break.