Stress and Nervous Indigestion - Getting Your Life Back so You Can Be Well
Stress and nervous indigestion go hand in hand for many people, but not everyone quickly identifies their indigestion as something that is linked to stress. Stress of all types can lead to indigestion, not to mention that once you have it you’ll need to find a way to manage it and get yourself better.
The key with nervous indigestion is learning why there is such a link between the indigestion and your emotions. There are millions of nerve fibers that branch out from the stomach to every part of your anatomy, so the stomach isn’t just connected to other digestive organs. Naturally, you have nerves that go from the stomach to the brain, so there is a direct connection of those nerves that trigger stomach upset and indigestion. With the stomach and the brain having such a direct link, you can see the sensitive nature of how things work. An aggravated stomach will turn to an aggravated temper, and with anxiety at its height it can cause you to be irritated by every little thing around you. Anxiety will also trigger your inability to sleep and can cause you to feel fatigued all because your body isn’t digesting food properly. What happens with your stomach is truly affecting the rest of your body in every way.
Nervousness can be brought on by many different sources. High levels of caffeine, the use of narcotics, alcohol and smoking are also contributing factors. Many who have anxiety and can’t sleep may have too much coffee the following day, so that produces nervous behavior which in turn can lead to nervous indigestion. The use of narcotics creates an addiction and can raise the nervous system above its normal ranges. When separated from the narcotics the individual can become nervous and riddled with anxiety, so this in turn will upset the stomach. Alcohol is a depressant, and so if someone becomes addicted to it they will have anxiety when they try to do without. When the affects of the alcohol wear off, the addict is left with anxiety yet again, and the emotional triggers that are associated with that begin to cause all the digestive problems. Whenever there is a strong emotional trigger with any of these examples listed above, the stomach begins to release more acid causing the discomfort associated with indigestion.
Sedatives and narcotics have very strong influences in a person, and can cause an emotional roller coaster that affects many areas of their life, and the digestive system being a major one. When people tell you they are so nervous they can’t eat, or so nervous they feel as though they will throw up then this is the beginning stages of what causes nervous indigestion.
Some ways to get life back on track and overcome indigestion, will all begin with preventing the nervousness and anxiety. Getting to the root of the problem rather than just taking antacids is the key, because covering up the symptoms won’t help any when the root of the anxiety hasn’t been corrected. In order to do this there are several options beginning with ways to improve one’s quality of life. Stress management could be taking a vacation if you are overworked, or if situations at work are causing anxiety. Getting counseling for your anxiety is also another important step, and finding a counselor you can trust and are comfortable with may take some time.
Also, nervous indigestion can be corrected quickly when the emotional help is coupled with diet changes. Eliminating acid producing foods for the time being is an important step in calming the digestive system. You can replace high sugar foods with salads, and fresh fruit and vegetables while drinking plenty of water. It may also be helpful to avoid stimulants like coffee and tea until you get things back on track. These steps will help you begin to change your life, and get you on the path to wellness.