In simple language, emotional stress is the mental state one goes through when faced with life challenges, i.e., physical, financial, professional, or relationship challenges. When confronted with any difficulty, the mind goes through a turmoil that makes one feel anxious, frustrated, and may fail to cope with certain situations.
The common factors that may lead to emotional stress are:
Work pressure: Deadlines, rivalry with colleagues, job insecurity, etc.
Personal relationship: Breakups, arguments, family problems.
Physical: Health issues.
Financial: Excess expenditures, loans, medical bills.
Lifetime changes: Loss of loved ones, change of location, unexpected responsibilities.
Now, one may think what these factors have to do with the stomach? That’s what this article is all about. Here, we will learn about the complex relationship between emotional stress and stomach problems and how to manage these stressors to lead a healthy life.
Emotional Stress and Stomach Problems: The Brain-Gut Connection
Stress that we occasionally go through is normal, though prolonged emotional stress can take a toll on physical health, especially on the digestive system. The gut-brain relation is deep, which means mental health directly affects the stomach and overall gut health.
How Stress Affects the Digestive System
Stress adversely affects the digestive system by disturbing the digestion. It activates the release of stress hormones, i.e. cortisol, that negatively affects bowel movements, slows down digestion. Regular high stress levels can result in bloating, acidity, and other gastric problems, making life more stressful.
How Gastric issues affect the Brain
Stress and anxiety can trigger digestive issues, while digestive problems can cause irritability and mood swings, marking the stomach-brain relationship.
Common symptoms of emotional stress
Physical signs: Headache, lack of appetite, sleeplessness, fatigue.
Mental symptoms: Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, overthinking.
Behavioural symptoms: Lack of interest in social life, constant search for coping mechanism.
Common stomach problems associated with Stress
Indigestion and Bloating: Stress slackens the digestive process, causing bloating and fullness even when you had a small meal.
Heartburn and Acidity: Excess acid production due to stress can lead to discomfort in the upper abdomen.
IBS and Cramps: People with IBS notice worsening of their symptoms when in stress.
Diarrhea or Constipation: Which one troubles you may depend on how your body reacts to stress. Some individuals experience difficulty passing stool, while some may have to deal with constant bowel movements.
How to Manage Emotional Stress for a Healthy Gut
Figure out triggers: Managing any problem begins with finding the cause of the problem. Likewise, spotting the factor of stress only helps to manage it.
Device a coping method: Each individual has a different coping strategy, some may benefit from practicing relaxation methods like meditation, while some may find physical exercises beneficial.
Talk it out: Sharing your problems with friends or family can be a way to de-stress.
Set your limits: Saying yes to all and over-commitment may only drain and stress you, set a healthy boundary.
Self-care: Do things for yourself that make you happy. Taking up hobbies, getting enough rest, or participating in physical activities support your emotional well-being.
How to Manage Gut Health for Emotional Well-Being
Avoid Gut disruptors: Junk, heavy, and oily foods, similar to alcohol, excess sugar, and highly processed foods, are bad for gut health.
Have a gut healthy diet: Probiotics, whole grains, fiber rich, and healthy fats work wonders on gut health.
Ayurvedic remedies for gut health: Gut health can be fortified with natural herbs. Ayurvedic herbs are the best medicines for stomach problems. Supra Gut 70 is one such natural remedy. Formulated with strong herbal ingredients, it’s a powerful solution for all stomach problems. An unhealthy gut is the root cause of high stress levels. Supra Gut 70 is a fast-acting remedy for all stomach problems, thereby stomach-related mental stress.
Similar to Supra Gut 70, another potent remedy for stomach problems is Udar Sanjivani. It is a mix of most powerful herbs that help in relieving gastric problems such as gas, acidity, constipation that may cause discomfort and stress.
Drink adequate water: Drinking sufficient water flushes the toxins out of your digestive system, while keeping you hydrated as well as your gut healthy.
For mental health, it’s worth trying Manas Raj Vati and Oil. It is an ayurvedic mental wellness tablet and oil to give you relief from anxiety and stress.
Concluding Thoughts
We can conclude that emotional stress and gut health go hand in hand, and an inclusive approach has to be taken to manage both. After understanding the gut-brain relationship, you would have learned how important it is to take care of mental health just as taking care of physical health.
Though, ayurvedic remedies such as Supra Gut 70 and Udar Sanjivani with their powerful herbs do come to your rescue to support gut health, stress management, simple lifestyle changes, and a balanced diet with no gut disruptors can notably improve digestion and overall health. So, keep yourself free from stress to keep your gut happy and healthy.