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Eating right doesn't cure IBS and symptoms for some people can persist without stabilization when they are on the right diet. However, off a safe diet will, sooner or later but usually sooner, lead to worse symptoms. I can say that with as much conviction as I have ever stated anything. Avoiding the classic unsafe foods for some just makes things a little less bad.
I disagree with the idea that not thinking about IBS or not depriving oneself will lead to less symptoms. I know people have felt that way before and it can seem that way at times. For me, I often feel just fine at a party where I stand a lot and eat a little this and that and it should seem like I'd be worse. BUT the standing and the slow snacking are what makes the difference, not the particular food.
I do agree that the mind is a huge factor in IBS. Eating whatever you want just leads to the sort of "food hangover" regret that none of us want. Instead of hanging on the porcelain throne we'll be sitting on it. 
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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I want to be clear that I never said nor expected that changing my diet would 'cure' my IBS. But I was of the expectation that I would feel considerably better, which I did not.
Feeling extremely stressed about everything I put in my mouth especially when I wasn't the one who prepared it did contribute to making my IBS symptoms worse. Adding that kind of pressure to eating is not only unnecessary, but it also does contribute to more intense IBS symptoms. Why? Because for me (and I suspect for many of us) stress is a HUGE trigger - in fact it is THE biggest trigger - for IBS symptoms.
If we do eat "trigger" foods (which I could never personally figure out because my reactions were never consistent and I was triggered all the time), we may feel worse. Why? Because our guts are more sensitive - that is true. As I said, even healthy people have problems with foods that are greasy, spicy, or too much of something like red meat. But I don't have to strictly avoid dairy, or any other food, but I do need to them in moderation.
The "food hangover" is not something I buy into anymore. I've stopped blaming food every time I have a flare up because it's not particularly productive or useful. I look instead to my level of stress or anxiety, and focus on the mental-emotional aspect.
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I agree with you 100% and so well written.
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My philosophy on IBS is by coddling the stomach physically through careful eating (both foods and how we eat), we are making it less susceptible to reacting badly due to non-physical stimuli such as stress. The calmer the stomach due to physical reactions the calmer it is from emotional reactions. In my opinion there is really nothing to be done for IBS but the basic- treat the gut like a spoiled child and its senseless tantrums will be lessened.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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It's all about the mind. We know that, don't we Frygirl? 
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Quote:
I've become increasingly convinced over the past 4 months that food is not a significant trigger for my IBS symptoms. I came to this conclusion based on strictly following the EFI diet and severely limiting my food intake to try to make myself symptom free. Not only did this not work, at all, but it also created additional stress for me around food that wasn't there before (and incidentally caused IBS symptoms).
I also came to this conclusion from my own personal journey of trying to understand why I have IBS, which began to make a lot more sense when I read "The Divided Mind" by Dr. John Sarno. He theorizes that IBS (among other chronic pain and illnesses) is caused by the brain to prevent terrible unconscious emotions such as rage, sadness, pain, from transitioning into the conscious mind. This spoke to me in a way nothing else has because I carry around so much emotional pain. I even used physical illness, namely 'tummy aches' as a way to cope with my parents chaotic relationship as a child. Not any wonder why that's now a programmed response for me as an adult.
This weekend I decided to experiment because I finally convinced myself that food is not triggering my IBS. I ate whatever I wanted after spending 3 1/2 months of denying myself many things I enjoyed and craved. I ate pork and beef, cheese, italian food with garlic and onions, french fries, pizza, salads, apples with the skin on. I felt free for the first time in a long time. I wasn't stressed about food at all.
Guess what happened? Nothing. I feel no better and no worse than I did before in terms of my IBS symptoms. I even had a really good day this weekend. I did have a bad day this week as well, but that's no different than when I was limiting my food intake. It's just not food causing my symptoms! That's not to say I can eat whatever I want, because even healthy people have digestive problems if they eat too much junky, greasy food. But I certainly don't need to eliminate so much from diet.
I wonder who else out there has discovered that their symptoms are not really controlled by diet?
+1
Food is definitely not a trigger for me either. The only trigger i have is coffee and its a bad one. Other then that i have tried every imaginable theory on what might be causing my symptoms. SIBO, hypnosis, regular excersize and stress reliefe, pro-biotics and supplements of all sorts. Nothing seems to work. Doctors can't figure out whats causing it either.
This forum is very biased towards dieting to help IBS. There are other forums out there that explore every means to control IBS not just by dieting.
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I am the polar opposite of you- It is FOOD and FOOD only that trigger my symptoms- not stress. I can be under extreme stress and my belly can be fine if my laxatives and diet are working together. Conversely- I can have the most stress free relaxing of times, and if I am eating too many raw veggies and IF- the symptoms are extraordinarily horrendous. Unlike many- and I have tracked it for many, many years- stress does NOT affect my IBS. And I have it very bad. That being said- I do think that my extremely traumatic childhood caused it.
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Just a comment on your "feels like trying to digest rocks"- I often try to tell people what the food feels like in my stomach and it's impossible to explain- I say it feels like I ate bricks and trees and wet sand with some air balloons mixed in! It's nice to know others feel (kinda) the same!
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I am agreement with both of you.
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I know I'm a little behind but I though I'd jump in on this discussion. I have recently dealt with the domestic violence of my first marriage-which ended in 1978 and until 2 months ago, I never named it, or talked about it. I am convinced that this is the root cause of my IBS. And my mantra now is-my tummy doesn't belong to *&^&$ it belongs to me! - I've also been fairly stable (episode about once every 5 weeks, but not too bad) for a year because avoiding certain things. I've learned that it is not just what I eat or don't eat-it's how I eat. The how helps me a lot (SF before a meal, acacia, probiotics) I can eat salads and raw foods in moderation if I chew till practically nothing is left. So for me its part diet and part in my mind. I suspect that true for most of us. (PS-its been 8 weeks and not even a gurgle!)
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