Not many of us are aware of the fact that there is a very strong connection between your brain and the gut and this connection should not be overlooked. There are many times in life when you feel nauseous and you cannot identify the reason behind it. This is why the idea of eating can make the stomach release digestive juices before you consume the food. This shows there is a strong connection between your brain and the gut.
Impact of anxiety
Anxiety has an impact on your digestive system and it is important to understand and acknowledge the same. Anxiety can present itself in various ways including panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is a short term effect of anxiety which can increase the heart rate and have an impact on your breathing. When anxiety is very intense, it will make you feel lightheaded or nauseous. It will have an impact on your mental and physical health.
Impact of anxiety on the gut
Your brain and digestive system are interconnected and this shows that when one of the two is stressed, the other will also respond in the same manner. There are many ways you can identify digestion issues that are responding to situations of anxiety.
- Acidic refluxes: If you notice that your stomach has difficulty in digesting acidic foods, this could be because of anxiety. This happens when you are going through certain stressful times in life. Common symptoms include acidic taste in the mouth, heartburn, acid indigestion and regurgitation. It can cause a burning pain inside the chest area and can happen due to factors like obesity and smoking.
- Stomach cramps:During high levels of anxiety, you could experience stomach pains and ache that is non-periodic. They are uncomfortable and you need to move away from anxiety triggers in order to deal with them.
- Vomiting: Due to high anxiety, you could experience vomiting. It affects the naturally occurring compound in the body which functions as a neurotransmitter in your nervous system. If you end up vomiting in high anxiety moments, it could be due to the level of norepinephrine in the system.
- Constipation: Individuals eating foods that are rich in fiber and drinking a lot of water but still experiencing the trouble of constipation, it is possible that you are anxious and dealing with stress in your life. Anxiety can lead to a bad supply of blood inside the gut and it can cause the bowels to push food down very slowly. This is why you experience constipation. You need to avoid doing anything that triggers your anxiety.
If you regularly experience any of these situations, you need to seek help. It is advisable to speak to friends and family about the stress you are dealing with. Manage your anxiety by engaging in activities that you enjoy and try out simple exercise routines that help coordinate your movement and breathing.