Absolutely. Stress and anxiety are common causes of stomach pain and other GI symptoms.
Common stress-related gut symptoms and conditions include:
diarrhea. constipation. loss of appetite. unnatural hunger.
When nervous or anxious, your body releases some hormones and chemicals that enter the digestive system. This can affect the microorganisms that live along your gut, helping in the digestion process while decreasing antibody production.
The emptying of the stomach is delayed, which can lead to a stomachache, indigestion, heartburn and nausea.” As the stomach is slowing down, stress causes increased motor function in the large intestine. So at the same time that you're stressed, you might experience bowel urgency or diarrhea.
When we're stressed, hormones and neurotransmitters are released in the body. This can negatively impact gut motility, or the way our intestines and stomach squeeze and move waste through the body. Also, stress can affect the delicate balance of bacteria in our gut, causing GI discomfort.
Opt for easy to digest, antioxidant-rich comfort foods such as root vegetables (wonderful as a mash or slowly cooked in a stew), protein-rich soups that will give you sustained energy (chicken soup is a classic).
Common gastrointestinal symptoms due to stress are heartburn, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and associated lower abdominal pain.
Signals originating in the brain make their way to gut nerve cells, leading to a release of inflammatory chemicals. Psychological stress is known to worsen the gut inflammation caused by certain bowel diseases.
When you have it, you may feel: Cramping, churning, tightness, or knots in the stomach. “Butterflies” in the stomach feeling. Shivering, shaking, or twitching of muscles.
More evidence from 2020 also suggests that probiotics and prebiotics can have a positive effect on mental health conditions. Finally, a study from 2021 also notes positive effects of probiotics on anxiety and stress. To sum it all up, researchers seem to believe that probiotics may help with: anxiety.
Species of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus (lactic acid bacteria), and Lactococcus are found in the colon where they exert a positive influence on whole body health, including anxiety and stress.
Instead, high-functioning anxiety typically refers to someone who experiences anxiety while still managing daily life quite well. Generally, a person with high-functioning anxiety may appear put together and well- accomplished on the outside, yet experience worry, stress or have obsessive thoughts on the inside.
Gas and bloating are also very common in those with anxiety. In some cases this is due to the way stress affects nutrient processing. But in other cases it may be due to things like air swallowing - a very common symptom for those with anxiety attacks and those that hyperventilate.
Anxiety and anxiety disorders don't cause IBS, though they might worsen symptoms of the condition. A 2021 study suggests that certain mental health conditions — namely anxiety and mood disorders — share genetic pathways with IBS.
People with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have chronic intestinal inflammation. Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea and gas. Medications and surgery can help manage IBD flares, putting the condition into remission.
What is a Stress Belly? Stress belly is the extra abdominal fat that accumulates as the result of chronic or prolonged stress. Although stress belly is not a medical diagnosis, it is a term used to describe the way that stress and stress hormones impact your midsection.
What causes stomach or abdominal tightness? Common causes include gas, overeating, indigestion, IBS, and pregnancy. Fluid retention can lead to bloating in people with PMS or ascites, which occurs with liver disease and other chronic health issues.
The major effects of stress on gut physiology include: 1) alterations in gastrointestinal motility; 2) increase in visceral perception; 3) changes in gastrointestinal secretion; 4) increase in intestinal permeability; 5) negative effects on regenerative capacity of gastrointestinal mucosa and mucosal blood flow; and 6) ...
Medical research has linked magnesium to reduced anxiety. Magnesium helps you to relax by stimulating the production of melatonin and serotonin which boost your mood and help you sleep. Magnesium also reduces the production of cytokines and cortisol, which lead to increased inflammation and stress.
The best stress-relieving drinks include ginger, chamomile tea, valerian, black tea, coconut water, milk, green tea, coffee, lemon balm tea, water, and vegetable and fruit juice. Aromatherapy is another self-soothing practice shown to have benefits for mental health. You can read more about it here.
The Gut-Brain Connection
Just as an anxious mind can create butterflies in your stomach, a troubled tummy can signal the brain to go on high alert. So your stomach pain could be the cause or the effect of stress, anxiety and worry.