IBS isn't life-threatening, so sometimes people who don't understand the condition are quick to trivialise it.
But the pain, discomfort and inconvenience of IBS is very real and can often have a deep psychological effect.
It's estimated that three out of four people with IBS will have at least one bout of depression and just over half will develop generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) – a long-term condition that can cause overwhelming emotions of anxiety, fear and dread.
If you have feelings of depression or anxiety and they're affecting your daily life, contact your GP because these conditions rarely improve without treatment.
Also, being anxious and depressed could make your IBS symptoms worse.
There are a range of effective treatments for depression and GAD. They include antidepressant medicines and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or a combination of the two.
