When I first learned that my gastrointestinal (GI) condition was linked to stress or anxiety, my immediate thought was, “Okay, but what am I supposed to do about it? I can’t just quit my job, no matter how stressful it is.”

Years of psychotherapy (along with painkillers) eventually led me to a crucial realization—one emotion was at the root of all my symptoms: Guilt. This changed everything. From that moment on, I made it the focus of my therapeutic work.

Now that I have a solid emotion regulation system in place, I can live with my GI condition without fear. I know that whenever the next flare-up comes, I’ll be able to handle it with ease.

“The emotion surfaced in various aspects of my daily life—whether in my relationships, professional decisions, or social interactions. This book delves into the intimate connection between guilt and the physical manifestation of illness, and how, through deep work on this emotion, I was able not only to understand it but also to lessen the intensity of my symptoms and, at times, even make them disappear for extended periods.”