Can anxiety affect the stomach? It is scientifically proven that the psyche and the stomach are connected. Both the brain and the digestive system are controlled and influenced by the same hormones and neurotransmitters. Therefore, both are very vulnerable to stress and to changes in their chemical patterns.
When people suffer from anxiety, stomach and intestinal problems are among the most common physical complaints. But how is it that anxiety affects the stomach?
This is how fears can affect the stomach:
Because of the strong connection between the brain and the digestive system, anxiety can have various effects on the stomach. When you feel anxious, the body's stress response is activated, which can lead to physical symptoms, including gastrointestinal discomfort. Here are some ways that anxiety can affect the stomach:
Fear can increase the production of Stomach acid which can lead to symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn or indigestion. This can lead to discomfort, burning or pain in the stomach or chest.
Anxiety can interfere with the normal function of the Digestive system and lead to changes in bowel movements. Some people may experience diarrhoea or soft stools, others may experience constipation or stomach discomfort.
Fear can Feelings of nausea and, in severe cases, can lead to Vomiting lead. The release of stress hormones can affect the muscles in your digestive tract and cause these symptoms.
Anxiety-related muscle tension can Abdominal pain or -cramps cause. These sensations are often described as a feeling of tightness or knots in the stomach area.
Reduced appetite or overeating: Anxiety can affect your appetite in different ways. Some people may feel a loss of appetite and have trouble eating, while others may turn to food as a coping mechanism, leading to overeating or comfort eating.
It is important to note that the link between anxiety and stomach discomfort can vary from person to person. Some people are more susceptible to these effects and they feel their anxiety affecting the stomach, while others may not notice it at all. If stomach discomfort associated with anxiety is a frequent occurrence, it is advisable to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and guidance on how to treat the symptoms.
Types of stomach problems due to anxiety
Not everyone expresses the same physical discomfort from anxiety. Some people get acute stomach pains immediately during anxiety attacks, while others feel long-lasting discomfort every day but do not necessarily associate it with their anxiety. Physical complaints do not always occur at the same time as the anxiety attacks that trigger them.
Indigestion (digestive problems)
The digestive tract is influenced by the same hormones and neurotransmitters as anxiety. It therefore makes sense that digestion is disturbed when hormones and neurotransmitters are imbalanced.
When anxiety occurs, large amounts of adrenaline are released in the body. Adrenaline affects the absorption of nutrients from food, especially glucose. Any time nutrients cannot be processed properly, the entire digestive system is affected.
Anxiety can also affect the production of stomach acid. People who are already prone to reflux or heartburn often experience severe discomfort due to overproduction of acid in the stomach. In stressful situations, the production of stomach acid therefore increases and this in turn affects the entire digestive system.
Bloating and flatulence
Although both are related to digestive problems, they are still treated as a separate problem. Bloating and flatulence are very common in anxious or nervous people. Often it is because of how the stress affects the absorption of nutrients. But other factors also play a role, namely swallowing air or hyperventilating. Both lead to pent-up air in the abdomen, which exerts considerable pressure on the organs.
Poor distribution of resources in the body
One theory is that anxiety takes up a disproportionate amount of the brain's capacity so that other parts of the body cannot function fully. For example, part of the digestive system does not get enough neurotransmitters from the brain due to the stress of anxiety and its ability to function is reduced. In other cases, however, function can be accelerated by the mediation of the wrong messengers, so that the stomach produces excessive acid even though there is not enough food to decompose.
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation can cause both stomach pain and nausea due to increased air pressure in the stomach. Breathing, the way you eat and even the way you sit can all cause stomach problems.
Hyperventilation is common in people who suffer from anxiety and can become a vicious circle. The more you suffer from anxiety attacks, the more you hyperventilate and so in turn the anxiety affects your stomach. These problems in turn lead to an increase in anxiety.
Insomnia
Often anxious people also get stomach problems as a secondary symptom due to restless sleeping or insomnia. Lack of sleep leads to a drastic reduction in the efficiency of food intake. Food is not digested properly and important nutrients are simply lost.
So when people toss and turn sleeplessly at night due to their anxieties, it is not uncommon for the digestive system to suffer and discomfort to result.
