The Gut-Brain Connection: How Emotions Impact Digestive Health
Sep 17, 2024
1 min read
Have you ever noticed how your emotions can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms? For example, imagine being asked to give a speech in class - you might feel excited or fearful, leading to "butterflies in your stomach." This phenomenon is rooted in the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication network between your gut and brain.
Research shows that this connection involves the nervous system, vagus nerve, sympathetic, endocrine, immune, and microbiome systems (Breit, 2018). It's not just a one-way conversation; your gut and brain constantly communicate with each other. Stress, emotions, and an imbalance of gut bacteria can disrupt this communication, leading to:
- Negative mood changes
- Increased gastrointestinal symptoms
Fortunately, studies have identified ways to stimulate the vagus nerve, improving gut-brain communication. Simple exercises include:
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy
These practices may help decrease stress, anxiety, and inflammation by reducing the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight ) and increasing the parasympathetic response (rest and digest) (Dosset, 2023).
By acknowledging the gut-brain connection and incorporating these exercises, you can:
- Alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms
- Improve mood
- Enhance overall well-being
References:
Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018). Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain-Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 44. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044.
Dosset, M., (2023) Retrieved from Brain-gut connection explains why integrative treatments can help relieve digestive ailments. Harvard Health Blog.