How to Improve Gut Health Issues Caused by Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Pt. 1

If you’re short on time, feel free to only read the bold font.

What do anxiety, depression, stress, and gut health have in common? Any guesses?

Our brains and guts are connected. Therefore, our gut can physically be affected by anxiety and depression (1). As such, our “stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression” (1).

This makes sense given that our body’s feel-good chemicals are produced by both our brains and our gut (2). Unsurprisingly, these feel-good chemicals are linked to our mood. With that being said, the bacteria that live there can influence whether we actually feel good or not (2).

What is Gut Health?

Billions of bacteria live in our stomachs (3). These bacteria influence digestion, immune systems, and the development of chronic diseases (3). Gut health refers to “the health of your entire digestive system and the health of the microorganisms living in your digestive tract” (4).

Signs That You May Have Gut Health Issues

If you’ve been suffering from gastrointestinal issues for an extended period without any obvious physical cause, this might be your first sign that something is wrong (5).

Dr. Sameer Islam elaborates on the specific types of gut issues and lists: “bloating, pain, dissension, constipation, [and] diarrhea” as possible signs (6).

The other symptoms Dr. Islam references are:

1. “Brain fog

2. Weight changes

3. Sleep disturbance/fatigue

4. Skin irritation

1. Eczema

2. Acne

3. Dryness

5. Autoimmune diseases

1. Psoriasis

2. Celiac disease

3. Hashimoto’s disease

6. Food intolerances” (6).

Stress Management

We can’t talk about gut health and not talk about stress. Stress can profoundly impact our bodies and our stomachs are no exception. Stress management will look different for different people. For some people, stress management is cultivating a work-life balance. For others, it’s working on boundaries.

In general, stress management is likely to look like something that is intentional. It might even need a degree of effort that we can’t always give. If you’re like most people and you veg out in front of the t.v. after work because it’s all you have the energy to do, notice how you feel after that.

If you don’t feel rested or recharged, that’s a sign that you’re likely in a state of collapse, not rejuvenation. Collapsing can be ok and is sometimes necessary. But, life is about balance. Sometimes we need to sink back into our sofas and rewatch a comfort show. But be mindful of how often you do that vs. how often you choose an activity that fills your cup.

There are so many reasons why people collapse every day instead of acting with intention. There’s work that eats up the majority of everyone’s time, energy, creativity, and passion. There are kids, dogs, cats, chores, and errands that can only be completed during business hours. To add to that, there might be financial insecurity, housing, and food instability, and so much more. I get it. I really, really do. But at some point, we need to show up for ourselves the same way we do for kids, jobs, friends, and everything else.

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Disclaimer:

No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for individualized clinical care, treatment, or services.

No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Sources:

1. The gut-brain connection [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2023 Jun 20]. Available from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection

2. Hadley H. Digestive health and somatics: Total somatics [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2023 Jun 20]. Available from: https://totalsomatics.com/digestive-health-and-somatics/

3. Hamilton M. How to improve gut health with IBS [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Jun 20]. Available from: https://ignitenutrition.ca/blog/the-4-pillar-plan-get-a-healthy-gut-for-ibs/

4. What you should know about your gut health [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic; 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 20]. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/gut-health/

5. The gut-brain connection [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2023 Jun 20]. Available from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection

6. 7 Signs Of Unhealthy Gut And How To Improve Gut Health? [Internet]. YouTube. YouTube; 2020 [cited 2023 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M6Qv7dj3ds.