How Specifically Does Anxiety Affect Stomach?

[Kenny11]

Hi, I'm struggling through some fairly severe ongoing stomach issues that are initially triggered by a fairly specific, intense anxious event. Initially, I awaken with heart racing and/or a 'flushing' feeling around my heart, then it goes straight to my stomach where it immediately feels like a burning sensation, then severe pain and nausea.

Unfortunately, even after the anxious event/thoughts are removed, the stomach issues continue on for some time. This latest episode has lasted over 2 months. The last episode I had was in 2002 and lasted over 6 months.

When I'm not going through an 'episode', typical anxieties/fears may creep up on me, but none cause any sort of ongoing physical symptoms as these do. I don't suffer from panic attacks or most of the symptoms of general anxiety disorder.

- So to help me diagnose what is happening with my stomach, I'm curious to know exactly what is happening to the stomach during an extreme episode of anxiety?

- Some process is causing my stomach to become severely inflamed. Is there a scientific explanation?

- Anyone have severe, ongoing stomach issues resulting from an initial bout with anxiety?

Thanks. I understand a bit about adrenalin and how it affects the heart in this situation, but topics about stomach always seem more vague.

[cramphappy]

OMG this sounds so similar to what happens to me.  The problems are always much more noticeable in the fall and winter.

[jmama]

I just stumbled upon this post. I suffer from this upset/anxious stomach too & it's horrible. Last year I went nearly 2 months with it after I experienced an event that caused me severe anxiety. My stomach feels nervous, I have no appetite, bowels are affected,and generally feel crapy. I just went through something last week that caused me significant anxiety & it's back after over about a year relief from it. Along with it, I feel antsy & nervous in general, it *****! I wish I had some scientific explanation for it too. Last time it happened, I was convinced there was something seriously wrong with me. I went to the ER twice & all but drive my doctor crazy. I think she'd prescribed me every anti-nausea medication & nerve calming drug available. Nothing worked, I just wanted to sleep & shut myself away from everyone. It's now upon me again & I have no time or desire to deal with this again. Last time I lost about 10 pounds due to it. Ugh!

[wingnut54]

I am completely in this with you.. Mine started in February. I had a break of some sort and my normal world became this horrific nightmare of fear, worry and impending doom. doctor immediately put me on protonix because of the digestive issues associated with impending doom. the side effects made me feel worse than i did originally( remember, i am crazy now so i naturally get all side affects). BIG MISTAKE!!. i stopped the protonix 5 days ago and now i have a slight burning sensation in my stomach.. hopefully this is as bad as the burning gets .. I definitely wish you well with this socially caused mental affliction..

[SagitarriusGirl84]

Hello, I'm 28 years old and I've been suffering with Gerd/heartburn/acid reflux for 2 months now after I've had an anxious period in my life with lots of stress/fears/fear of death. I'm trying to get over this with lifestyle changes and less stress but I'm desperate to find the root of all this..Do you think that my anxiety had caused the reflux? The thing is that I hurt at times when I feel relaxed..Maybe it's stress and anxiety built up in my system? Thanks!

[boulder336]

From: Boulder    Mar 29, 2013
To:  Everyone (especially Lindsey23)

Anxiety in the Stomach:  I was born in 1934.  By 1939 to 1943, I had had several operations for osteomyelitis in my left knee.  Penicillin had just been discovered and it saved my life.  However, at this early age, the trauma of the surgeries and the administration of the antibiotics had so hard-wired my brain response mechanisms and my stomach milieu that I had bleeding ulcers at the age of 22.  At the age of 24, I was receiving blood transfusions to save my life.  That was when I realized that the issue of anxiety and stomach pain is a fight for survival.  I resolved to not only survive, but to be successful in the process.  As Clint Eastwood said, “A man (or woman) has got to know his limitations.”  Knowing those limitations, I learned, with the care of a first-class internal medicine physician, how to pace myself and how to limit those stress-producing events that cause me such distress.  After forty years of university teaching and research, I retired some 16 years ago.  During a significant part of this period, I took the medications that became available (Tagamet, Zantac, Nexium, and now Prilosec.)  It has only been recently that I learned of the existence of the hard-wired extreme anxiety syndrome and associated panic attacks (which centered in the middle of my gut.)  Now, I take Xanax to block the anxiety, Celexa to block the panic attacks, and Prilosec to control the acid reflux.  The hard-wired responses are not curable, but by recognizing the downward spiral of the anxiety and the damage inflicted on my stomach, I can control my diet and allow my stomach to begin to heal.  Sleep is essential for the healing process to take place.  This has been a seven-day cycle for sixty years.  But I am still productive in my research and plan to be productive for years to come.  If anyone is interested in my additional symptoms and what my coping mechanisms are, please ask.

[dijon28]

I feel for you x