Hi Cristina,

This falls under the category of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) which is a huge umbrella term for disorders affecting the digestive system. The human digestive tract is very complicated, and it is common for people to suffer from all kinds of symptoms despite no clear cause.

You have already done the most important thing, which is get checked by a doctor to rule out the most serious problems. The good news is that there are a lot of non-medical treatment options to help manage IBS. The important thing is that you are disciplined in how you try them - try 1-2 things at once,

Here are some ideas for other treatments you could try: * Take probiotics regularly. My preferred brand is called Align, but you may have something different in Italy. Probiotics make a huge difference for me. * Elimination diet. This is where you eliminate different food groups for a longer period (4 weeks) to see if there are sensitivities. I would definitely try 4 weeks without any grains, bread or dairy to see if that helps. * Mindfulness training. Anxiety can definitely cause or worsen IBS symptoms, and learning to manage it helps a lot. If he's open to it, he could start with something basic like "Mindfulness" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, who runs a mindfulness clinic.

What you can do to help him is to be there for him and support him in whatever ways he needs. IBS can be a very isolating and frustrating condition for people to deal with, and they are often resistant to discussing it or taking advice from others. Just be patient, and let him know that you are there to help or listen. Volunteer to do any non-medical treatment/diet he is considering with him (such as taking probiotics, eliminating food groups etc.). Sometimes it's helpful just to have company.