What does it look like?

There is a strong link between stress, anxiety and stomach symptoms. Anxiety can cause stomach aches and pain, bloating and global digestive discomfort.

Anxiety stomach pain may feel different for each person, and you can have different symptoms from one case to another. Stomach symptoms linked to anxiety may look like:

• Stomach stomach or cramps
• A feeling of baratting
• Bloating
• Indigestion
• Stomach burns
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Change of appetite

Here is why you can feel anxiety in your stomach: research suggests a link between the brain and the intestine, which includes your stomach and your intestine. Inside your intestine are many nerves that are connected to your brain, and your brain and your intestine communicate with these nerve paths.

Your stomach and your intestine are linked to your brain through two main nerve pathways:

• Through your vagus nerve, the longest nerve in your autonomous nervous system, which controls automatic and involuntary functions such as digestion
• Thanks to your enteric nervous system, part of your autonomous nervous system which is in your intestine and can influence your mood

This means that when you have a strong feeling of anxiety, panic or stress, you may feel strong sensations in your stomach and your intestines.

If your stomach pains come from anxiety, you will likely feel other signs and symptoms of anxiety. These may include:

• A feeling of dread, fear or discomfort
• Sweating
• Quick heart rate
• Hustle
• Racing reflections that you cannot control
• Avoid activities that trigger anxiety

However, other causes and conditions can also cause stomach pain. Stomach pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms could also be due to:

• Gas
• Constipation
• Stomach virus or food poisoning
• Food intolerances
• Appendicitis
• Bile calculations or kidney stones
• Stomach burns
• Muscle cramps
• Period cramps

If your stomach pain does not disappear in a few hours or becomes more severe, it is a good idea to connect with a health professional to determine his cause – anxiety or otherwise.

There are things you can do to help manage your stress reaction, which can help reduce your stomach symptoms.

Therapy

Therapy can help you learn to manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to anxiety, stress and panic. Several types of therapy can help anxiety.

The most widely studied treatment and well known for anxiety is cognitive behavioral (TCC) therapy. In CBT, you learn to become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and to use useful adaptation strategies more effectively.

Mindfulness, breathing and relaxation techniques

Mindfulness – A concentration or awareness of the present moment without judgment – is an effective way to help manage anxiety and reduce symptoms such as stomach pain linked to anxiety.

There are many ways to be attentive, and you don’t have to do it perfectly. You can sit down and focus on your breaths, an object in front of you or a significant word or sentence.

You can also associate mindfulness with other breathing and relaxation techniques. These may include deep breathing techniques such as the breathing of the boxes or the stomach breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation, where you slowly scan your body, relaxing each part when you focus your head attention.

Drugs

Some people benefit from prescription drugs for anxiety. These may include antidepressants such as selective serotonin recovering inhibitors (ISRS) or other anti-annual drugs.

Diet and exercise

Physical activity is a great way to manage stress. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, also called wellness hormones. Research suggests that yoga and tai chi can be effective exercises to reduce anxiety. But any exercise you like can help.

Some foods can worsen stomach pain for you. These may include spicy foods, fatty foods or foods you have intolerance. Likewise, caffeinated drinks and coffee can increase anxiety for some people.

Meeting a dietitian or another health care provider can help you understand what foods can worsen your anxiety and your stomach.

Natural remedies

Natural remedies can be useful for stomach pain or anxiety. Some to consider include chamomile tea, lavender oil, passion and melatonin.

Natural remedies have generally not been as widely studied as other prevention techniques. Most are not regulated by health agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA). Always talk to your doctor about a natural remedy before trying it.

Due to the strong link between your brain and your intestine, anxiety can cause stomach pain and other digestive symptoms. Stomach pains related to anxiety may look like cramps, have barattage, stomach burns, fullness or nausea. A treatment is available.