Psychosomatics of stomach pain: can the stomach hurt from nerves?

Each person is subject to stress in varying degrees of severity. Since the internal organs are interconnected in work, the resulting nervous tension affects the functions of the body. The intestines and stomach react strongly to the emotional state. No wonder they say "all diseases are from the nerves."

How the psyche affects health

Gastroenterologists, neuropathologists, pediatricians argue that stress in the human body disrupts, first of all, the blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to a violation of the integrity of the gastric mucosa. Pains appear, becoming symptoms of gastritis, ulcers, illness. They lead to dysfunction of the gallbladder, liver and bile ducts.

The loss of a protective barrier by the stomach, the functions of which were performed by the mucous membrane, gives rise to diseases that affect the rest of the digestive organs.

Symptoms during stressful conditions:

• The stomach begins to ache.
• Heartburn, belching, rumbling, diarrhea.
• Increased gas formation.
• Spasm.
• Feeling of a lump in the throat.

Human psychology is closely related to the physical condition. The emergence of new or exacerbation of existing diseases can occur on a nervous basis.

Diseases of the stomach

The state of anxiety, anger, sadness, longing, rage leads to instability in the digestive system. When, in response to a stressful state, the patient feels pain syndrome, this is not surprising.

What happens in the stomach when the patient starts to get nervous, what is the psychosomatics of the disease? Human nerve cells control the work of internal organs. While at rest, the body functions correctly. When the nervous system gets into a state of excitement for various reasons, a failure occurs. At the same time, the work of the glands, which provide the stomach with the necessary enzymes for the digestion of food, is disrupted. The amount of incoming gastric juice, composition, changes upwards. The supply of bile from the pancreas is impaired. And the most common disease arises - gastritis.

Nervous gastritis

More than 80% of the world's population suffers from gastritis to varying degrees. Moreover, as noted by medical statistics, the bulk of patients are residents of large cities and megalopolises. Their intense rhythm of life leads to an increased degree of irritability and nervousness. Low physical activity also makes adjustments and contributes to an even greater aggravation of the disease. The causes of the disease vary:

• Unhealthy Lifestyle.
• Helicobacter infection.
• Psychological reason.

The correct diagnosis is established only during examination. If, according to the results of the tests, the presence of an infection is not detected, then the search for the cause of the dysfunction relies on the psychological state of the patient.

Frequent stress, depression, increased emotionality, irritability are factors that favor development nervous gastritis. Against their background, symptoms develop:

• Lump in the throat.
• Vomiting urge.
• Periodic loss of consciousness, heart rhythm disturbance.
• Pain in the stomach.

The patient is advised to consult a gastroenterologist if one of these symptoms appears. The doctor examines, reveals the psychological components of the disease, refers to a neuropathologist and psychotherapist. Often the presence of belching, heaviness or pain in the stomach leads the patient not to see a doctor, but to the pharmacy for pills, when the symptoms are perceived as a reaction of the body to poor quality food. Self-medication can lead to a worsening of the condition, which will cause increased nervous stress and aggravate the situation.

Stomach neurosis

The specified disease is considered as a functional disorder of the stomach, in which the ongoing digestion causes pain. The cause becomes a stressful situation, and in addition, nervous, physical and mental stress. The impetus for the development of gastric neurosis is given by improper diet, smoking and alcohol abuse.

Symptoms that arise:

• Pain syndrome.
• Burning.
• Feeling of heaviness in the stomach; discomfort in the epigastric region.

With neurosis, acidity decreases, mucus stagnates in the organ, and the pain syndrome increases. Belching appears, appetite decreases until it disappears completely, there is a feeling of a lump in the throat.

With nervous tension in the body, adrenaline is produced, which, getting into the bloodstream, excites nerve cells. The stomach ceases to perform its main function - the digestion of food. But the stress goes away and digestion doesn't recover as the hormones continue to work. The elimination of the described phenomenon is dealt with by a psychotherapist, in addition to a gastroenterologist, it is recommended to visit this doctor.

Ulcerative defects

The emergence of pathologies based on psychological and physiological factors has long been known to medicine. In case of violations, there is no change in the psychological behavior of a person, but ulcerative defects and vascular pathologies appear.

With stress in the stomach, the production of hydrochloric acid increases, but there is no subject for digestion. If you do not stop the process, organ tissue is digested, and an ulcer is formed.

Psychologists note similar phenomena in patients with unstable mental health who "eat themselves up". An evil person digests food at an accelerated rate. With a negative mood, fear, on the contrary, the work of the tract slows down and leads to spasmodic phenomena in the stomach and intestines.

Not only emotionally weak people are prone to ulceration. Responsible work leads to stress.

Neurological disorders are manifested by severe pain syndrome. And each exacerbation occurs with the next, even minor, stressful condition. The disease is accompanied by sweating, fussy behavior, anxiety. Medications that the pharmacy advises for pain and other visible symptoms will not help. In the presented situation, it is necessary to seek help from a psychotherapist.

If the stressful condition is not treated and the signals given by the body are ignored, stomach cancer appears.

Psychotherapist help

It is not always possible to find out that the disease is caused not only by external factors, but also psychogenic ones. But signs have been identified that help determine that a visit to a psychotherapist should not be postponed:

• The patient undergoes a course of treatment with a gastroenterologist for a long time, but at the slightest nervous tension, the disease returns again.
• There are disturbances in the digestive process, disturbed by spasmodic attacks, pain, gas formation, diarrhea. At the same time, there are no apparent reasons for the onset of symptoms.
• The patient has a disturbed sleep, gets tired quickly, a feeling of tension and depression. There is abdominal discomfort, other problems of the gastrointestinal tract.

Stress under control

Very often, patients complain that they have a stomach ache or diarrhea at a time when they are nervous. The indicated nervous tension is not always the result of stress. Even working moments or simple everyday troubles can unbalance a weak digestive system.

Medicine has proven the impossibility of restoring nerve cells, which means that psychosomatic ailments are easier to prevent than to try to cure them later.

Experts in such cases recommend the rules:

1. Spend at least one hour in the fresh air.
2. Physical activity is shown. It is noticed that they have a beneficial effect on the human nervous system, especially swimming.
3. For people who are highly prone to emotional excitement, yoga or meditation is perfect.

When playing sports during nervous tension, it is not recommended to perform exercises related to twisting the press.

Treatment

To get rid of neurological diseases of the stomach, methods are used as for the treatment of stress.

• Bed rest and rest.
• Strict diet for the first 3-5 days. During this period, the internal organs will be able to recover.
• Meditation and light physical activity.
• Eliminate nervous irritation that caused the onset of the disease.
• Reception of decoctions and infusions according to traditional medicine recipes.

Nerves, according to medical statistics, are more likely to cause stomach pain. A person should be attentive to the emotional and mental state in order to avoid serious dysfunctions of internal organs, especially after stress.

Lead a healthy lifestyle, take a balanced diet. At the slightest appearance of signs of malaise, you should immediately consult a doctor. He will competently draw up a treatment plan based on the individual characteristics of the body.