Calm the nerves and intestines: flatulence due to nervousness

Neurosis of the stomach and intestines is a sign of a psychological disorder. Many people confuse it with a gastroenterological disease. But in the absence of any problems with the gastrointestinal tract, men and women may experience strange phenomena in the abdominal area. For example, a feeling of fullness and bloating in the gastrointestinal tract even after one sip of water.

Unfortunately, gastric neurosis must be treated under the supervision of qualified doctors. Symptoms and their causes do not go away on their own, but often progress with age, complicating life activities.

What is gastric neurosis?

All systems of the human body have nerve endings, so neurosis can occur in any organ.
There are especially many of them in the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore gastric neurosis occurs quite often. Psychosomatic causes usually do not cause severe pathologies of the stomach. But pain during the development of this pathology is felt quite strongly, which is why the quality of life of the sick person is significantly reduced. Feeling severe pain, people often do not want to believe that the cause of their occurrence is psychological. However, it is important to take into account that a prolonged depressed state causes a general decrease in immunity, and failures of the immune system can provoke the development of various infectious diseases.

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Why does the disease occur?

When we talk about the common causes of intestinal and stomach diseases, they are often caused by bacteria, hereditary predisposition, and acquired chronic pathologies.

But do not forget that the vagus nerve is involved in organizing proper gastric secretion. When it is at rest, secretion occurs normally and the person feels comfortable. But psychological shocks and past illnesses, as well as simply constant anxiety, can lead to serious problems.

Among the common causes of gastric neurosis are:

• Problems of a psychological nature. They arise when a person feels constant anxiety, is dissatisfied with himself, or experiences a tragic event. Psychologists note that neurosis can cause a break with a loved one, being in a negative environment in a team at work, or the loss of a relative.
• Wrong lifestyle. The nervous system suffers due to lack of sleep, poor work-rest balance, and constant severe stress.
• Nutrition problems. The gastrointestinal tract makes itself known when you eat a lot of fatty, heavy foods, consume a lot of sweets and starchy foods. Poor diet is another risk factor. To avoid getting sick, you should give up frequent snacking and balance your diet.
• Past illnesses. Many viral diseases, as well as problems with the stomach and intestines, quickly provoke neurosis. The problem appears against the background of gastritis, neoplasms, ulcers and other problems.
• Negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract. The disease can manifest itself after severe poisoning, as well as during intoxication, against the background of bad habits.

Diagnosis of gastroneurosis

Many signs and symptoms of gastric neurosis are identical to those that develop with gastritis.
Therefore, to correctly diagnose this disease, it is important to pay attention to the presence of psychological symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, headaches, overexcitation, insomnia, panic attacks, phobia, hypochondria, etc. Characteristic signs of gastric neurosis in children are nervous vomiting, not accompanied by nausea. In adults, this disease often manifests itself in the form of anorexia (complete lack of appetite) or bulimia (a condition in which a person eats too much food). Both of these pathologies are dangerous and can ultimately even lead to death.

Symptoms of the disease

The disease begins to manifest itself at a fairly early stage, so examination using modern diagnostic methods allows you to choose the right treatment method and get down to business.

Neurosis of the stomach and intestines is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Constant feeling of hunger. It does not disappear even after a heavy meal.
• Bloating, increased gas production. May be accompanied by colic.
• Discomfort in the abdomen. There is pain, heaviness, and a pulling sensation.
• Heartburn. It occurs in the abdomen and can spread to the sternum area.
• Belching. Sometimes a person cannot control the urges. Belching is accompanied by loud sounds and an unpleasant odor.
• Aversion to food. Often, not only the smell, but also the sight of food can cause nausea and severe psychological rejection in a person.

Psychologists also note such signs as the manifestation of a chewing reflex even when there is nothing in the mouth. Patients complain of severe nervous agitation, problems with sleep, and panic attacks. Phobias may also appear. The head begins to ache and feel dizzy, blood pressure rises, and hypochondria is observed.

Treatment options

The main therapeutic method used to treat gastric neurosis, as well as all other neurotic disorders, is psychotherapy.
Therapy involves group and individual personality-oriented sessions. During these sessions, the specialist helps the patient to discover the psychological conflict that caused the development of gastric neurosis in order to rebuild the personal relationships that caused the development of the pathology. The main task in this case for the psychotherapist is to switch the patient’s attention from the symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases to resolving the internal psychological conflict. Gastroenterological drugs are also used for treatment. They are prescribed to improve metabolic processes, eliminate spasms, normalize the secretion of gastric juice, and protect the gastric mucosa. Medicines are also prescribed to the patient for psychotherapeutic purposes - to give him confidence that treatment is being carried out. In advanced cases, the treatment regimen may also include tranquilizers and antidepressants.

University

→ Home → University → University in the media → Psychological “roots” of peptic ulcer disease

Stomach and duodenal ulcers develop due to stress. It turns out that it is impossible to cure with drugs? For complete recovery, emotional stress must be eliminated. But in the modern world this is unrealistic... Answered by Associate Professor of the Department of Polyclinic Therapy of BSMU, Ph.D. honey. Sciences, general practitioner and psychotherapist Anatoly Bliznyuk (back in Soviet times, the doctor studied the relationship between the psychological and clinical-functional characteristics of patients with duodenal ulcers and now continues his research - as part of scientific work on psychosomatic diseases): - Peptic ulcer disease refers to classic psychosomatic ailments, which are the result of the interaction of mental and physiological factors. Local and general mechanisms are involved. The first is a violation of the regulatory functions of the gastroduodenal zone, motility disorders and a decrease in mucosal resistance. General – high level of psycho-emotional stress. Modern medicine copes well with local mechanisms. There are powerful medications - proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2 receptor blockers (they effectively suppress the acid secretion of gastric juice), as well as strong antibiotics (they eliminate the flagellated parasite - Helicobacter pylori; many consider it the main culprit of the pathological process). But the stress factor, alas, is underestimated and usually remains unattended.

Patient portrait

A long time ago, when I was a local therapist in a clinic, I noticed that people with stomach ulcers, stubborn, difficult to scar, persistent for a long time, usually got it after a conflict situation or a powerful emotional shock. This is especially true for older women who have experienced the death of loved ones. In patients with duodenal ulcers (these are 4 times more common), the stress was not so pronounced, although long-lasting, associated with professional fulfillment or family problems. All patients were united by an urgent need for love, care and protection, which, unfortunately, they did not have due to various circumstances. This thirst for care can be compared to what a small child experiences when abandoned by his mother. But this “does not suit an adult”, and therefore the feeling of defenselessness and dependence is suppressed by them. Having not received the desired attention, a person strives to compensate for this with professional success, sports victories, and other achievements; he often sets high standards and goes overboard with the load. But even having achieved the goal, he does not feel satisfied. This category of patients has a very painful sensitivity to failures at work, loss of a high position, and negative assessments of their activities. An inadequate violent reaction to events entails the inclusion of local mechanisms for the development of the disease.

Between emotion and body

When a person has a need, an acceptor of the result of an action is immediately formed in the brain, perceiving and evaluating the result of the efforts made. To achieve the desired, muscular and other mechanisms are launched that organize actions in the desired direction. If everything worked out - emotions of satisfaction and pleasure. If not, disappointment, aggression, indignation. In the latter case, a corresponding vegetative discharge occurs: breathing and heartbeat become more frequent, and blood pressure rises. Possible reactions from the gastrointestinal tract - pain, heartburn, increased secretion of gastric juice, reflux of acidic contents from the stomach into the esophagus. The endocrine glands turn on - the adrenal glands intensively pump the blood with stress hormones, in particular cortisol and adrenaline. The pancreas “starts”, which means insulin increases. It also stimulates the production of gastric juice. Increased acidity is favorable soil for duodenitis, ulcers, gastritis (it is no coincidence that they are called acid-associated diseases).

When a person has high demands on himself and sets extreme goals that do not correspond to physiological capabilities, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, which is responsible for resistance to stress, is activated. The stress response has been confirmed by animal experiments. The rats were subjected to immobilization stress—complete immobility; The thymus gland, which is responsible for cellular immunity, immediately decreased, hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex was observed, and gastroduodenal ulcers developed.

The connection between emotions and physiological processes is confirmed by the presence of peptides common to the gastroduodenal zone and the brain - substances involved in the self-regulation of body systems (endorphins, enkephalins, etc.). Therefore, the mood drops and changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract - motility, secretion, food digestion; appetite.

Ulcer from... demotion

Here's a case. A 37-year-old man had a periodically worsening stomach ulcer and was treated with medication twice a year. After a course of psychotherapy—working through a conflict situation in a group—the patient completely abandoned medications, and the pain stopped. An endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract showed: there are scars in the stomach, no ulcers. No exacerbations were observed for 15 years. Another example. The military man was transferred to a lower position. He had many years of service behind him, he considered this unfair. In fact, translation became a powerful psychological trauma. After a couple of weeks, severe abdominal pain appeared. A fresh duodenal ulcer was diagnosed (some of the acute ulcers open literally the next day after a stressful situation). The man was treated with medication, the ulcer healed, but as soon as he returned to duty, it opened again. This time complicated by bleeding. The patient underwent gastric resection. After returning to work, he was again hospitalized with an anastomotic ulcer... The man turned to a psychotherapist in complete despair. A course of individual psychotherapy of 9 sessions was required (he refused group therapy), which included relaxation techniques, rational-emotive and hypnotherapy. The mental background of the severe course of the disease was revealed to the man. He did not immediately admit: his profession was everything to him; he wanted to constantly receive external confirmation that he was strong, successful and independent. And having lost his status, he experienced it as a life disaster. During therapy, the patient realized: life is not limited to success at work, especially in adulthood, when spiritual values ​​are a priority. He has a wealth of experience, good intellectual baggage, he is organized and responsible, he has a lot of options to realize himself “in civilian life”, to be useful and interesting to his loved ones. The ulcer healed and a long-term remission was achieved.

It all starts with the desire to get to the bottom of things

An important condition for any psychotherapy is the patient’s awareness of his wrong attitudes and correction of his personal picture of the world. Unfortunately, few sincerely strive for this and show a willingness to open their souls, admit their own weakness, dependence, and serious internal problems. Advertising of pharmaceuticals and their abundance hinders the perception of the relationship between mental and physical factors: swallow a pill - and why get to the bottom of the problem by changing your worldview? The local mechanism for the formation of the disease is blocked, but incorrect attitudes and, as a consequence of this, periodically occurring or constant stressful situations and injuries remain. Therefore, today the so-called pathomorphoses, changes in the course of the disease. Instead of an ulcer, for example, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) appears, which is characterized by the reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. For those suffering from GERD, one of the characteristic psychological reactions is a strong internal protest against an unpleasant situation. Classic psychosomatoses also include nonspecific ulcerative colitis, myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, neurodermatitis, hyperthyroidism... Psychosomatic pathology rather requires rehabilitation measures, the purpose of which is to harmonize a person’s worldview and self-perception. Elena Kleshchenok Medical Bulletin , January 31, 2013

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If you have symptoms of stomach neurosis, contact us. We employ experienced psychiatrists. They specialize in the treatment of psychosomatic diseases of various internal organs caused by psychological reasons. Our doctor will examine you, perform the necessary tests, after which he will make an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment. If necessary, a psychiatrist can visit your home.

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Reasons for the development of pathology

The main causes of gastric neurosis are:

1. Leading an incorrect lifestyle. Lack of daily routine, constant stress, lack of healthy sleep, excessive physical and emotional stress.
2. Poor nutrition, heavy consumption of junk food, dry snacks.
3. Neoplasms, ulcers, gastritis.
4. Negative influence of factors on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Active development of diseases caused by the penetration of viruses into the body.
6. Conflict situations both with oneself and with others.

As a rule, to eliminate stomach neurosis, it is enough to simply change your lifestyle and review your diet.