Have you ever experienced that uneasy feeling in your stomach on a very important job interview or examination? Or when you hear disturbing information and it feels like something hit you very hard in your stomach? That is actually the sensation of a physical pain that affects the stomach, which is induced by anxiety. Let’s understand how anxiety causes stomach pain and what it feels like. Note that anxiety is a treatable condition. If someone is experiencing daily or severe stomach pain due to anxiety, please consult an anxiety specialist or an anxiety specialist near me to prevent the condition from deteriorating.

Anxiety and stomach pain

Your stomach has a brain of its own. Scientists named it the second brain because it possesses over one hundred million nerve cell connections. As a result, this brain manages the process of food transport and enzyme secretion into your stomach.

When you are stressed or anxious, the brain sends signals to the stomach. These messages can change the way the stomach behaves. It may start to move a bit quicker or slower with the actions of a bit. It may start with too much or too little acid.

Recall the last time you experienced stage fright before something important. Did your stomach feel weird? That was your brain and stomach communicating with each other.

What happens inside your body when you feel anxious

When something scares you or makes you worry, your body goes into the fight-or-flight mode. This means the body releases chemicals of stress, like the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, into your blood. Stress chemicals cause your body to focus all its attention on the fear stimulus. That is why your stomach seems to act up during anxious times.

The stress chemicals often cause several problems:

  • Experiences tightness and cramping of the stomach muscles
  • Too much acid is released in the stomach
  • Food moves too fast or too slow through your system
  • Increase or decrease of good bacteria in your stomach

Stomach pain anxiety symptoms

Everyone responds to anxiety stomach pain differently. Nevertheless, the most common feelings include:

  • Stomach area cramping or tight knots
  • A fluttering feeling as though butterflies were hovering inside
  • Sharp or dull aching that comes and goes (intermittently)
  • Feeling your stomach is blending or twisting
  • Nausea sensation

Some people describe the pain as their stomach "eating itself," or feel there is an imaginary weight in their stomach. Others express that they are feeling an inside cell phone vibration. Some may feel mild and painful persistent discomfort, while others can feel unbearable pain that doubles them over.

Many parents point out to child psychiatrists that their child's stomach aches are due to anxiety during exams or important events, causing them to poor academic, miss school, or participate in other activities. 

Other symptoms that often happen with stomach pain:

  • Diarrhea or constipation (or switching between both)
  • Bloatedness that makes your clothes fit tighter
  • Heartburn or acid that makes it up into your throat
  • Loss of appetite or eating food all the time
  • More burps than usual

When do your symptoms mean something more serious?

Anxiety really is a contributor to stomach aches, but in more difficult cases, there might be something more critical happening in the stomach. If you see these red flags, you should see your doctor immediately:

  • Blood in stools or vomit
  • Stools are black and tarry
  • You lose weight without even knowing it
  • Vomiting that goes on steadily
  • A severe pain that wakes you up from sleep at night

If your results are normal, your pain is still valid and real. Functional stomach problems are the type of conditions that many people suffer, but their digestive system is specifically more sensitive to stress and emotions. 

These signs indicate that a person may have a medical condition that requires immediate intervention.

How to relieve anxiety stomach pain

Some of the following simple ways to help with anxiety and stomach pain are:

Breathe calmly:

Most people breathe shallowly and forcefully when they are nervous. This "elevation" usually worsens the situation.

Try a breathing technique like 4-4-6. Inhale through the nose and take 4 counts, then hold the breath for another four counts, and let it out through the mouth for six seconds. Do this 5-10 times. It tells the body that the danger is over and helps the stomach relax.

Eat foods that help, not hurt

Some foods may enhance anxiety and stomach pain. These include:

  • Consuming coffee and energy drinks
  • Eating spicy foods
  • Fried or greasy foods
  • Taking too much sugar
  • Alcohol

The type of food that can help your stomach relax includes:

  • Bananas
  • Rice and toast
  • Ginger tea
  • Peppermint tea
  • Plain yogurt

Move the body to calm the mind:

Exercising might not be everybody's first thought when having stomach pain, but nevertheless, gentle movement can be very helpful. Walking, stretching, or doing light yoga also helps to decrease the tightness.

Exercise also improves the production of the "feel-good" neurochemicals known as endorphins, which in turn lead people to feel better.

Try natural remedies:

The use of certain herbs can function as sedatives and reduce the muscle contractions in a person's stomach:

  • Drinking peppermint tea, lemon balm tea, or chamomile tea
  • Massage the stomach gently with peppermint oil.
  • Placing hot water bottles on the stomach

Professional assistance:

If you are having daily or severe stomach pain induced by anxiety, you may require an anxiety specialist, such as a board-certified psychiatrist NYC, for diagnosis and probably some medication combined with stress management.

They will teach you the specific practices to deal with both your fearful thoughts and physical symptoms. In some mild to severe cases, they may necessitate the use of medication to aid in making anxiety-related stomach pain feel better. These include:

  • Anti-anxiety drugs for severe cases
  • Antispasmodics for stomach cramping relief
  • Low-dose drugs that ease the gut-brain connection

Note that medication does not fit everyone. It is very subjective. Nevertheless, it is known to be very cohesive for some individuals while they learn coping techniques.

Some key notes to consider:

  • Keeping a simple record of the situations that stimulate the discomfort
  • Learning about the early signs of anxiety before the stomach pain starts
  • Developing ways to deal with stressful days

Remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or that you somehow made your problem up. It is a proactive self-improving choice. Now, online therapy has become a popular option for some people. You can consult with a board-certified psychiatrist from home, which perhaps feels more comfortable than commuting to your appointments when your stomach is hurting.