Frequently Asked Questions

Digestible is a program designed to help IBS sufferers address the root cause of their symptoms: the brain-gut connection. Using science-backed lessons and exercises, Digestible helps you identify your unique symptom triggers and apply proven strategies to help improve symptoms, eat more freely again, and get back to life. Our Brain-Gut Therapy program helps you find relief without needing to cut more foods out of your diet. Digestible is designed to make a brain-gut approach simple, effective, and sustainable.

Digestible is built on a well-established body of research showing that IBS is not simply a gut problem. It's a disorder of gut-brain interaction. The brain and gut are in constant two-way communication. When someone has experience significant stress at some point in their lives, their brain-gut system can become sensitized, and start to react to foods, stress, and situations that weren't previously an issue. The good news is that this sensitization can change. Research shows that developing skills like stress resilience, emotional processing, and challenging avoidance behaviors can help reverse the brain-gut reactivity fueling IBS symptoms. Digestible draws on several evidence-based approaches to do this: GI-directed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (GI-CBT) targets the beliefs, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors that keep symptoms stuck. In an NIH-funded trial, a largely self-guided GI-CBT program produced adequate symptom relief in 61% of participants. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) supports nervous system regulation and helps you access a "rest and digest" state where digestion happens optimally. Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) addresses the emotional undercurrents that can drive IBS — in a randomized controlled trial, EAET significantly reduced IBS symptom severity compared to a waitlist control. Food Response Retraining, led by Registered Dietitian Ingrid Currington, is grounded in exposure-based CBT. Research shows that psychological treatments reducing GI-specific anxiety and encouraging reintroduction of feared foods can be just as effective as elimination diets — while reducing food-related stress and supporting healthier long-term eating patterns. Rather than narrowing your diet further, this module helps you examine whether your reactions to certain foods are conditioned responses, and guides you through reintroduction at your own pace. Taken together, these approaches help you break the often hidden patterns driving IBS symptoms: fear, avoidance, and a brain-gut system that learned to react. Because IBS is real, it's not your fault, and there are treatments that can help. 💚 Sources: Biesiekierski JR, Manning LP, Murray HB, Vlaeyen JWS, Ljótsson B, Van Oudenhove L. Review article: exclude or expose? The paradox of conceptually opposite treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022 Aug;56(4):592-605. doi: 10.1111/apt.17111. Epub 2022 Jul 1. PMID: 35775328; PMCID: PMC11327802. Lackner JM, Jaccard J, Keefer L, Brenner DM, Firth RS, Gudleski GD, Hamilton FA, Katz LA, Krasner SS, Ma CX, Radziwon CD, Sitrin MD. Improvement in Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2018 Jul;155(1):47-57. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.03.063. Epub 2018 Apr 25. Erratum in: Gastroenterology. 2018 Oct;155(4):1281. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.09.049. PMID: 29702118; PMCID: PMC6035059. Mazaheri, M. (2015). Difficulties in emotion regulation and mindfulness in psychological and somatic symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.17795/ijpbs-954 Muscatello, M. R. A., Bruno, A., Mento, C., Pandolfo, G., & Zoccali, R. A. (2016). Personality traits and emotional patterns in irritable bowel syndrome. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 22(28), 6402. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v22.i28.6402 Shafiei, F., Dehghani, M., Lavasani, F. F., Manouchehri, M., & Mokhtare, M. (2024). Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial examining improvements in emotion regulation, defense mechanisms, quality of life, and ibs symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1293150 Shah, K., Ramos-Garcia, M., Bhavsar, J., & Lehrer, P. (2019). Mind-body treatments of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: An updated meta-analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 128, 103462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.103462 ‌ Stasi, C., Rosselli, M., Bellini, M., Laffi, G., & Milani, S. (2012). Altered neuro-endocrine–immune pathways in the irritable bowel syndrome: the top-down and the bottom-up model. Journal of Gastroenterology, 47(11), 1177-1185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-012-0627-7 Thakur ER, Holmes HJ, Lockhart NA, Carty JN, Ziadni MS, Doherty HK, Lackner JM, Schubiner H, Lumley MA. Emotional awareness and expression training improves irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Dec;29(12):10.1111/nmo.13143. doi: 10.1111/nmo.13143. Epub 2017 Jun 22. PMID: 28643436; PMCID: PMC5690851. Zhu, X., Chen, W., Zhu, X., & Shen, Y. (2014). A cross-sectional study of risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome in children 8–13 years of age in suzhou, china. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2014, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/198461

IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a common condition characterized by recurring episodes of abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation. Although not part of the diagnostic criteria, bloating, nausea, feelings of incomplete evacuation, and urgency are also common. IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DBGI) meaning it results from a miscommunication between the brain and gut. It’s estimated that IBS affects around 1 in 10 people worldwide and symptoms can range from mild to severe. IBS is diagnosed by a doctor after it is determined that there is nothing physically wrong in the body that can explain the symptoms. IBS is an issue where the gut is not functioning normally. Despite what you may have been told, your IBS is likely not directly caused by the foods you eat and there are things you can do to reduce or eliminate your symptoms.

Research shows that conditions like IBS, GERD, and functional dyspepsia are disorders of the brain-gut connection (DBGIs). Symptoms are rooted in how the brain and gut are communicating. When the brain perceives a threat, it activates the stress response, disrupting digestion and increasing pain sensitivity. For those who’ve experienced significant stress in their lives, this response can become heightened and chronically activated. Essentially the brain can become "wired" to overreact to everyday stimuli, which can cause ongoing pain and digestive issues. This over-reactivity of the brain and nervous system can lead to a heightened sensitivity in the gut. This is called visceral hypersensitivity and research shows that it is common amongst individuals with IBS. Elimination diets, such as the Low-FODMAP diet, can reduce symptom triggers by limiting gas-producing foods. However, they do not address the brain’s role in perpetuating symptoms. Digestible takes a brain-gut approach, leveraging the brain's ability to rewire (known as neuroplasticity), to improve how the brain and gut interact.

Most IBS treatments focus solely on the targeting the gut—relying on medications, supplements, or restrictive diets in an attempt to alter digestion. While these approaches will offer relief for some, for others, they fall short leading to a sense of frustration and feeling stuck in the exhausting cycle of trying to "manage" their symptoms. New research shows that IBS is a disorder of the brain-gut connection. Digestible is a groundbreaking program that takes a different approach, targeting the root causes of IBS in the brain. Research shows that the brains of individuals with IBS are wired differently (Mayer et al., 2023). But the good news is that our brains always have the ability to rewire based on new learning and experiences (known as neuroplasticity). Digestible helps you change the signals your brain is sending to your gut, so pain and digestive issues can fade away. By leveraging neuroscience and psychological research, Digestible provides personalized lessons and practices to start feeling better. Sources: Mayer EA, Ryu HJ, Bhatt RR. The neurobiology of irritable bowel syndrome. Mol Psychiatry. 2023 Apr;28(4):1451-1465. doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-01972-w. Epub 2023 Feb 2. PMID: 36732586; PMCID: PMC10208985.

You can download Digestible for free and access the first few module to see if it might be a good fit for you. To unlock the full program, the pricing is $149/year. By signing up for the program, you will gain access to daily lessons and practices, as well as our community support group on Facebook.

Everyone’s healing journey is unique, and there’s no universal timeline for feeling better. The key is to focus on progress rather than perfection. Letting go of the pressure to “heal quickly” can help reduce stress and create the environment your mind and body need to recover at their own pace. Many individuals have experienced significant relief through these methods, and the more consistently you practice, the greater the benefits tend to be. Why not take the first step and see what’s possible for you?

Absolutely. Your brain-gut system is capable of change, no matter how long you’ve had IBS. Through neuroplasticity, Digestible helps you rewire the brain-gut connection to improve your symptoms and start feeling better.

If you’ve tested positive for SIBO (via breath test) or food intolerances (via IgG blood test), keep in mind that these tests often have high false-positive rates, especially in the absence of other diseases affecting digestion. Talk to your doctor to see if Digestible may be a good addition to your treatment plan.

Digestible is specifically designed for disorders of brain-gut interaction (DBGIs), such as IBS. While it’s not specifically designed for inflammatory conditions like IBD, those who experience IBS in addition to their IBD symptoms may be a good fit for this program. Consult your doctor to determine if Digestible could be beneficial for you.

Digestible subscribers also have access to the Digestible Support Group on Facebook. Our Facebook Community is a source for support, encouragement, and advice from others on their healing journey. If you need technical support, you can submit a message on the Profile > Submit Feedback screen within the app or email support@digestibleapp.com.

To delete your Digestible account and all personal data:     1.    Open the Digestible app     2.    Go to Profile > Account > Delete Account     3.    Tap Delete Account and confirm We will permanently delete:     •    Your name and email     •    Survey answers     •    Progress through modules     •    Journals and any tracked data Deletion is permanent and processed within 7 days. If you have questions, contact us at support@digestibleapp.com.