Did you know that your mental health impacts your gut health? Gut health is becoming more of a prominent topic in today’s society as some of the conditions that we have been told are genetic or allergies are tied to gut health.
How does your mental health affect your gut health? Let’s look into some of how mental health will affect your gut and digestive tract.
Indigestion
It is common knowledge that your gut health can suffer if you are in a bad state of mind. Your gut health can be influenced by stress to having the “wrong” mindset. But what is less known is that the wrong state of mind can cause indigestion.
Stomach Upset and Diarrhoea
When you’re stressed, anxious, or depressed, it’s common to have a stomach ache or a bout of diarrhoea. This happens because stress, anxiety, and depression cause changes in the gut, and the gut responds by creating more issues for you. This can happen repeatedly, so you can see how it can quickly become a vicious cycle.
Your gut and stomach react to your mental state, and this, in turn, can cause harm to your digestive system. If you have suffered from diarrhoea resulting from depression or other mental conditions, you must seek diarrhoea treatment in conjunction with mental health treatment. You shouldn’t be alone; there are trained professionals to help you.
Constipation
A new study has revealed that unstable mental health can alter your digestive tract. A few adults were asked to complete a two-week questionnaire that evaluated their mental health and gastrointestinal symptoms in the study.
The results showed that those with symptoms of depression or anxiety had a higher number of painful bowel movements or harder to pass than those who were not experiencing these issues. It is also worth noting that there was a connection between the severity of the mental health symptoms and the gut symptoms. Those who had a lower quality of life showed more signs of IBS.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are other common effects of mental health problems. Although mild nausea and vomiting can be temporary, it can also signify a mental health disorder. People with a psychiatric illness are more likely to suffer from vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms than the general population.
Loss of Appetite
Many people suffer from digestive problems, and many of them understand that a change in their diet and lifestyle can improve their digestive health. But how many people are aware that mental issues can also lead to poor digestion? Mental stress is one of the most common causes of disruptions in your digestive system. This can result from depression, anxiety, trauma and several other conditions.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a pretty common health problem, but it has a lot of symptoms that make it difficult to diagnose. Many IBS symptoms overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia. Because of how common IBS is, it’s crucial to know how an unstable state of mind will quickly escalate the problem.
Conclusion
If you suffer from anxiety, depression, or stress, your gut health may be at risk. Your gut is known as your second brain since there are more neurons in your gut than in your spinal cord. The gut-brain axis is a two-way street, so mental health can also affect your gut health.