How stress affects the digestive system?

Asked by Anonymous
Answered
05/17/2021

Stress is a normal psychological and physiological response to certain events and situations. The brain is designed to detect threats to protect us. Once a threat is detected, the brain responds by releasing hormones that cause the body to respond in a way that prepares it to fight, fly, faint, or freeze – a set of responses that can help face threats. For most people, once this system is triggered and the threat is abated, their nervous systems return to normal. For others, ongoing stressful situations, difficulty managing stress, or a history of trauma, can lead to the body becoming “stuck” in stress response mode or unable to return to a pre-stress level in a timely way. Over time, stress that isn’t managed can lead to health difficulties and reduce the quality of life.

For those that experience stress, research confirms what they already know: the digestive system is impacted and responds to stress. Stress can cause intestinal cramps that lead to diarrhea. The “gut-brain” or the nervous system researchers believe operates within the gut responds to the release of stress hormones by slowing down the digestive system in some places – leaving food unprocessed in your body which can create nausea or stomachache and creating movement in other areas of the digestive system, which leads to diarrhea. People with irritable bowel syndrome or IBS are more prone to the digestive impacts of stress.

Talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing digestive symptoms that you believe may be related to stress. Your trusted medical provider should evaluate anything out of the ordinary. If they believe stress is the culprit for your ongoing digestive issues, they may make some lifestyle recommendations or prescribe medication meant to reduce the body’s stress response or stop the cramping that may result from stress and lead to problems like diarrhea. Stress management practices are likely to be recommended and often include regular exercise, getting plenty of restful sleep, spending time in activities you enjoy, and participating in or learning relaxation techniques. Working with a therapist can be very helpful for learning coping skills to use with stress, processing stressful events, and having a supportive and helpful space to discuss stress and its triggers.

(MS., CMHC., NCC.)