The link between gastrointestinal disorders and anxiety (2023)

FAQs

Are gastrointestinal problems linked to anxiety? ›

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.

A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected.

Stress can cause a range of gastrointestinal problems including cramping, bloating, inflammation, and a loss of appetite. Find out how to keep stress levels down to protect your gut.

The fear of a similar situation recurring can trigger a panic attack. Unfortunately, in someone with IBS, a vicious cycle can result where the presence of recurring digestive issues can cause panic attacks and an episode of panic can then result in the onset of more punishing physical symptoms.

Stress is known to cause low-grade intestinal inflammation via increased bacterial translocation and the production of poisons (87).

Although it may seem strange, many people do experience gas (burping and flatulence) connected to their anxiety. Not only can anxiety cause gas problems and bloating - the gas problems themselves can lead to other symptoms that can actually increase anxiety. This can create a vicious cycle of anxiety and gassiness.

Early use of PPIs and H2 blockers in patients can be beneficial to prevent stress gastritis. PPIs work to inhibit hydrogen ion secretion by blocking the H/K ATPase of parietal cells. Parietal cells are stimulated by acetylcholine, gastrin, and histamine to secrete hydrogen ions.

If the stress response is triggered too often, the body has a harder time recovering. This impedes the flow of digestion and can cause stomach upset. It can also contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome and/or ulcers. The digestive system cannot function properly with too much stress or stimulation.

Common gastrointestinal symptoms due to stress are heartburn, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and associated lower abdominal pain.

How do you fix digestive problems from stress? ›

To boost and support digestion, make sure you're getting enough physical activity on a consistent basis, like walking and running. Exercises like Hatha or Iyengar yoga, which focus on alignment and posture, may also alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve stress outcomes.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, but they could be helpful for people with anxiety and IBS. These medications make the gut more active, so they may be better for those with IBS-related constipation.

Research has shown CBT to be effective in improving bowel symptoms, psychological distress, and quality of life. A recent review and analysis of existing studies (meta-analysis) found that the number needed to treat for CBT in IBS is three, meaning that if three people are treated with CBT, one will clinically improve.

GI symptom-specific anxiety (GSA) is the cognitive, affective, and behavioral response stemming from fear of GI symptoms. The Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI) measures GSA and is validated in IBS and may be useful in IBD.

Lorazepam was found to be useful in the treatment of GI illness with anxiety component in several other studies.

As your body recovers from the active stress response, this feeling should subside and your stomach should return to its normal self. Keep in mind that it can take up to 20 minutes or more for the body to recover from a major stress response. But this is normal and shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Natural remedies: Ginger, which people can sip as a tea, chew on as a root, or take as a supplement, may help alleviate mild gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea . Drinking peppermint tea or smelling peppermint oil may also reduce nervous stomach symptoms.

Symptoms of Gut Stress

Because gut stress affects your whole body, stay on the lookout for these symptoms: Upset stomach after eating. Diarrhea or constipation. Cramping and/or bloating.

Acid blockers — also called histamine (H-2) blockers — reduce the amount of acid released into your digestive tract, which relieves gastritis pain and encourages healing. Available by prescription or over the counter, acid blockers include famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and nizatidine (Axid AR).

Can long term anxiety cause gastritis? ›

Stress can cause a stomachache, and an even more serious condition called gastritis. If your bout of indigestion or inflammation lingers for a week or more – or if there is blood in your vomit or feces – you should see a physician to determine if you have gastritis.

Drinking warm water can soothe the digestive tract and make digestion easier on your stomach. One study showed a significant difference in people with gastritis that drank tea with honey just once a week. Manuka honey has also been shown to have antibacterial properties that effectively keep H. pylori in check.

“It can be a delivery system for nutrients to support our health, or it can be a source of great distress due to digestive dysfunction from multiple root causes like leaky gut, dysbiosis (an imbalance in the microbiome, the delicate ecosystem of bacteria inside us), inflammation, and infection.”

Prolonged high levels of stress can increase stomach acid secretions, which can damage the lining of our gut. Over time, this can lead a variety of problems with digestion and even make you more susceptible to ulcers, which are caused by a specific bacterium.

Common gastrointestinal symptoms due to stress are heartburn, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and associated lower abdominal pain. These symptoms and the alterations in intestinal function that cause them are becoming understood.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS

Relaxation exercises and calming self-talk are two CBT coping techniques that may help. These exercises enable users to actively lessen the stress response, thereby reducing the gut changes that occur in response to thoughts and feelings.

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.

In some people, stress slows down digestion, causing bloating, pain and constipation, while in others it speeds it up, causing diarrhoea and frequent trips to the loo. Some people lose their appetite completely. Stress can also worsen digestive conditions like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.

Many over-the-counter medications can help you deal with vomiting or one or more of the side effects of a nervous stomach, like nausea, diarrhea, or acidity, including Alka-Seltzer, Emetrol, Mylanta, Pepto-Bismal, Similac, or Tums. To know which medication is most appropriate for your symptom, talk to your doctor.

Can long term anxiety cause IBS? ›

Stress-induced alterations in neuro-endocrine-immune pathways acts on the gut-brain axis and microbiota-gut-brain axis, and cause symptom flare-ups or exaggeration in IBS. IBS is a stress-sensitive disorder, therefore, the treatment of IBS should focus on managing stress and stress-induced responses.

Probiotics have also proven beneficial in IBS patients by slowing down the transit time of the colon, reducing the average number of bowel movements per day, improving stool consistency, overall symptoms, and above all, the quality of life in these patients.