Stress and functional GI disorders

Feeling nauseated before a presentation, or intestinal pain during stressful times? You are not imagining it. The gut and the brain influence each other.

Stress - or depression and other psychological factors - can affect the movement and contractions of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the sensations that seem to come from the gut.

Emerging evidence also suggests psychosocial factors can alter the types of bacteria living in your gut, contributing to chronic inflammation.

Research further suggests that some people with functional GI disorders perceive pain more intensely because their brains do not properly regulate pain signals from the digestive tract.

In other words, stress can make the existing pain of functional GI disorders feel even worse. That points to a practical conclusion: at least some people with these conditions might find relief through therapy that reduces stress or treats anxiety or depression. Indeed, one review of 32 studies found that people treated with psychologically based approaches improved more than those who received conventional medical treatment alone.

Integrative therapy for functional GI disorders shifts the focus from pinpointing a single cause to engaging patients in activities and therapies that manage symptoms and improve quality of life. That can include medications, dietary changes, and stress-reduction techniques.

When weighing whether your gastrointestinal symptoms - heartburn, abdominal cramps, loose stools - are stress-related, watch for these other common signs of stress and report them to your clinician too.

Physical symptoms

Stiff or tense muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders

Headaches

Sleep problems

Shakiness or tremors

Recent loss of interest in sex

Weight loss or gain

Restlessness

Behavioral symptoms

Procrastination

Difficulty completing work assignments

Changes in how much alcohol or food you consume

Taking up smoking, or smoking more than usual

Grinding teeth

Rumination - frequently talking or brooding about stressful situations

Emotional symptoms

Crying

An overwhelming sense of tension or pressure

Trouble relaxing

Increased desire to be with - or withdraw from - others

Nervousness

Quick temper

Depression

Poor concentration

Trouble remembering things

Loss of sense of humor

Indecisiveness