The gut-brain connection
Dr. Roy Patankar, Director and Gastroenterologist, Zen General Hospital (India) said, the gut has nerve cells that are connected to the brain through nerves in the nervous system. Your gut and brain are also connected through chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters produced in the brain are responsible for controlling emotions and feelings.
Gut bacteria tend to produce a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which controls feelings of fear and anxiety. As a result, the digestive tract is highly sensitive to emotions such as anger, anxiety, sadness, and excitement.
What emotions can affect the digestive system?
Worry
Anxiety is one of the most common emotions that can cause stomach problems. If you are overly anxious about a situation, this can upset the balance of your gut and cause you to feel nauseous.
Stress
Stress causes the esophagus to contract and increases stomach acid, leading to indigestion. If you are chronically stressed, this can lead to diarrhea and constipation, bloating, frequent trips to the bathroom, and loss of appetite. Stress tends to aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Anger
Excessive anger can be linked to a number of health problems such as headaches, insomnia, stomach aches and digestive problems. Most people who have anger management problems often suffer from stomach problems.
Depression
If you experience frequent stomach aches, or if they get worse when you're stressed, these could be signs of depression. In fact, Harvard Medical School researchers say that stomach discomfort like cramps, bloating, and nausea can be a sign of poor mental health.
Depression can definitely disrupt gut health and can lead to diarrhea, constipation, overeating or loss of appetite, says Roy Patankar, PhD.
