Conditions such as gastritis, functional dyspepsia, functional heartburn, burning mouth syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome may lead to stress or can be exacerbated by stress-related factors.
For this reason, therapies that complement conventional medicine (such as medication, clinical procedures, and surgery) have been shown to offer benefits to patients.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking-based treatment that helps individuals challenge unhelpful ingrained attitudes, beliefs, and thoughts that can influence everyday feelings and actions – often an underlying cause of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Other therapies may include hypnotherapy or acupuncture – a key part of traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are inserted into specific points of the body – or relaxation techniques to calm the mind and reduce muscle and gut tension. These techniques may include gentle exercise, controlled diaphragmatic breathing, creative activities, limiting screen time, getting out into nature, taking certain herbal supplements, and aromatherapy with essential oils that aim to promote a sense of calm.
