Yes. Anxiety can be the cause of nausea. There are physical and psychological reasons.
In anxiety, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol stress hormones.
These hormones can trigger many psychological and health-related issues. Heart rate, difficulty in breathing, sweating, muscle tension, and digestive issues are some of them.
But it is necessary to know about anxiety.
Anxiety Disorders and Health Conditions
Anxiety is a natural, common part of the human stress response. Every person experiences it from time to time in their life.
Its characteristics are tension, negative or worried thoughts, and physiological changes.
The anxiety symptoms go beyond mental distress. Its often appearance is a physical reaction in the body due to a chemical stress response that is triggered by the brain, including nausea.
The physical manifestations are often referred to as psychosomatic illnesses.
It can be a smart part of evolutionary biology that alerts people against danger. It is known as a “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
Basically, our body prepares us to face an upcoming emergency or danger.
When we have stressful feelings, our body releases hormones immediately. These hormones are neurotransmitters in the brain that react after sending messages to the body. They cause:
- Faster heart rate
- Difficult breathing
- Muscle tension
- Send more blood to the brain
However, anxiety can affect emotional, mental, and physical health in severe conditions.
The Brain-Gut Connection and Nausea
The link between anxiety and nausea is a brain-gut connection that contains the vagus nerve.
Emotional brain state can activate physical reactions in the body.
In times of stress and anxiety, the brain’s amygdala releases stress hormones.
How Stress Affects Your Stomach
When you feel stressed or anxious, your body becomes ready to face a threat. This is the reaction called “fight, flight, or freeze”. During this time, your body makes some immediate physical changes.
Your blood flows away from your stomach and intestines. It moves to your heart, lungs, muscles, and brain. This change in blood flow provides your stomach with less oxygen, and the result is bad digestion. You may have stomach issues, including nausea and vomiting.
Read More: Can Anxiety Disorder Cause High Blood Pressure? Insights About The Connection
The Vagus Nerve’s Role
The vagus nerve connects your brain to your stomach. It is a major part of the body system that controls digestion and helps you relax.
This nerve also contributes to your gag reflex. When you feel strong emotions, the brain can activate the vagus nerve, which can create a feeling of “butterflies” in your stomach before a big event. For some people, this feeling can become severe nausea or even vomiting.
Studies show that stress and anxiety can make people more sensitive to stomach problems like heartburn, even if the amount of stomach acid has not changed.
Other Brain-Gut Connections Affecting Stomach
Anxiety can make you sick. Even stress can worsen these conditions, such as acid reflux, GERD, and heartburn. They can make these feelings more noticeable.
Stomach pain, cramps, gas, and bloating are direct manifestations of anxiety and stress on the digestive system.
Even stress can cause changes in bowel movements and become the cause of diarrhea or constipation. Anxiety and mental issues are strongly associated with IBS, a functional GI disorder where stress can aggravate symptoms, even if not become the direct cause.
Read More: Generalized anxiety vs panic disorder: A Closer Look
Major Anxiety Disorders That Cause Vomiting
Nausea can be a symptom of various anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
This is caused by intense, persistent worry about everyday life. It can be persistent for six months or more. The symptoms can be tiredness and moodiness.
The excessive and uncontrollable worry can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response. This response releases hormones that can interfere with digestive functions. It can lead to stomach discomfort, nausea, and other gastrointestinal issues.
Panic Disorder
Anxiety can bring panic attacks with sudden, extreme fear and visible physical symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and weakness.
Read More: Is Panic Disorder a Disability?
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Nausea is a common physical symptom of social anxiety disorder. This is related to social situations that lead to self-consciousness and fear of judgment from other people.
Specific Phobia
Specific phobia is an irrational fear of certain objects or situations.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The situation is developed after trauma, which involves flashbacks, vivid dreams, and physical symptoms. The situation also triggers nausea-like feelings.
Coping Strategies For Anxiety and Related Nausea
Anxiety and its related symptoms, like nausea, need immediate attention. They can be reduced with the relief techniques. It is important to address both psychological and physiological aspects of anxiety to manage anxiety symptoms.
Read More: Trauma Brain Vs Normal Brain: How Trauma Affects The Way We Live
Immediate Coping Strategies for Anxiety and Nausea
When anxiety-related nausea strikes, various methods can provide immediate relief:
Deep Breathing Exercises
Deep breathing can be helpful in both anxiety and nausea. Controlled, deep belly breathing can stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps calm the body.
When there are anxiety and nausea symptoms, you can practice belly breathing by placing one hand on your heart and the other on your belly. Then breathe powerfully through your nose and exhale gradually through pursed lips. This can work out.
Mindfulness Practices
The other strategy can be engaging in mindfulness exercises and meditation. It can help reduce anxiety, stress and may reduce nausea. Such therapies as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy have shown results to reduce anxiety along with other disorders.
Mindfulness practices consist of simple exercise that involves taking intentional deep breaths, counting them, and witnessing thoughts without judgment.
Hydration
Water or other beverages like sports drinks and herbal teas can relieve intense symptoms and reduce nausea. Hydration can also help prevent anxiety.
Eating Mild Foods
For some people, hunger or low blood sugar can trigger anxiety and nausea. You can take a small number of bland snacks, plain rice, or boiled potatoes. These foods can help settle the stomach. It is suggested that you should avoid greasy, fried, spicy, and high-sugar foods.
Rest
Rest can be a simple act to reduce anxiety. When you have a relaxed mind, you can control such a fight-or-flight response. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes that can provide relief when feeling sick. If you have acid reflux or GERD, it is best to prop yourself up with pillows.
Read More: Is Social Anxiety Disorder A Disability?
Focusing on the Present
Be aware of your present state. When you are in a state of anxiety, try to focus on what is happening around you and remind yourself that you are safe. This can be helpful to pass on feelings.
Communication
Discuss your situation with your trusted friend or partners, or family member. If your situation gets worse, you should consult with a mental health professional. They can suggest a better solution and therapy.
Professional Treatment Options
For persistent or severe anxiety, professional interventions can help that including:
Talking Therapies
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
It focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns. A therapist helps to identify anxious thoughts that vary from person to person.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
This therapy addresses the roots that are the causes of anxiety through self-reflection. This is especially useful for anxiety that comes after trauma or deep-seated emotional conflicts.
Psychotherapy and hypnosis have also been found helpful for IBS and functional dyspeptic symptoms.
Medication
In some cases, psychiatrists use medication. It is combined with talking therapy. Psychiatrists prescribe medication like anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants. Anti-anxiety drugs offer short-term relief due to the risk of physical dependence.
Antidepressants are often prescribed for long-term treatment and relief in situations like panic disorder and generalized anxiety. Tricyclic antidepressants can be effective for IBS and other functional bowel symptoms.
Beta-blockers can slow heart rate and reduce blood pressure, normally prescribed for predictable, sudden bouts of anxiety like stage fright. It can reduce anxiety that makes you nauseous.
Read More: A Guide to Understand Anxious Attachment
When To Seek Medical Help For Anxiety And Related Physical Symptoms
It is necessary to consult a medical practitioner and psychiatrist if anxiety and nausea are continuous and trigger more related symptoms. Untreated anxiety can affect daily functioning in life.
A psychiatrist can help to identify the condition, level of symptoms, and recommend appropriate treatment options accordingly.
At Orange Coast Psychiatry, Our psychiatrists are experienced and have years of knowledge of treatment. Also, there are personalized choices, whether you need cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy. Besides that, for people who want it to be secret, we have telehealth services for ongoing treatment. Contact us now and control your feelings.
