long term depression,anxiety and ptsd now causing digestive problems

[phil1967]

hi all ,I have been suffering long term depression ,anxiety and ptsd caused by a number of things but have recently been plagued by digestive problems ,doctor seems to think i am creating the problems myself and that its all associated to my mental health .

can any 1 else relate to this ? am I doing this to myself ? or is there other factors in play here ? without a heap of invasive tests that I might put myself through for no real reason I might never know .

if others have had this same problem then could you describe your symptoms ,this may help me a lot in working out if its me or something else and give me the drive I need to pull out of this or get the medical help I may need ,any help would be appreciated

[blondguy]

Hi Phil

Thanks for having the strength to post such a good thread topic!

The digestive system is the most sympathetic to any level of anxiety/depression or PTSD.

Its not your fault that you have anxiety or depression. These are partially chemically linked and will have a direct effect on your digestive tract.

Ive had the IBS....indigestion....the nausea when the anxiety is frequent. Its part of the body being overly sensitised when the adrenaline is pumping way too hard with the anxiety we have

Ive had anxiety/depression for many years and I know that my digestive system will 'tag along' with the awful symptoms of anxiety/depression

It is directly associated with our mental health.....absolutely

First step is the GP...(for the anxiety/depression)....then if they recommend meds...take them. Your digestive issues will lessen. (providing there is no current physiological issues of course)

Second step...Super frequent counseling to kerb the anxiety/depression. You will find your digestive system will also slow down along with any anxiety or depression.

This is my 21st year of being on low dose meds (in my situation) and the chronic digestive issues have ceased.

Treating the anxiety at its core is the best method. I tried to self heal for 13 years being super fit and eating well but it didnt work (for me) until I really got serious with the regular therapy & meds

I myself didnt have a colonoscopy but once the anxiety was reduced everything else worked just fine

It does take a lot of practice and dedication but the end result is worth it.

you are not alone here Phil...in any shape or form...I hear you

I hope you can post back when convenient of course

my kindest

Paul

[MsPurple]

Hi phil. In short yes anxiety, depression and other mental illness or stresses can cause digestive problems. I think it's because it increases you CNS which can cause your digestive system to go into overdrive. This could be caused by being on edge or high alert causing your body to want to empty your stomach and small intestine. This is because in the old days high alert and going into fight or flight mode meant you had to run and get away (remember cave men had to run away from threats). Now with anxiety your body is constantly on high alert which can mean you digestive system may want to empty faster so you can move quicker. Ok sorry this is poorly put but I tried. This is why they think the digestive sytem goes into overdrive.

So my suggestion is for you to keep a food and symptoms diary. For each meal write down what you ate followed by symptoms within the 2-3 hours of you eating those foods Or you could write down the time you eat meals and write down the time you get symptoms. Symptoms could be loose stool, gas, bloating, stomach pains, reflux etc. This may help you see a link between the foods you eat and your symptoms. This can make sure there isn't another possible cause. I'm gonna be honest it is likely it is caused from anxiety/depression but it is good to eliminate another possible cause. A common sugar that causes stomach discomfort is lactose, which is found in some dairy products (including milk and yoghurt, but there is not much in hard cheeses so most people with lactose intolerance can eat hard cheese).

Hope this helps. I know it can be frustrating. I get a bit more stomach discomfort when my anxiety plays up too

[lollylegs]

Hi. I have the same problem. As I awaken in full blown panic, i guess my stomach and bowel are implicated. The first 3 hours of my day I'm nauseous. Has gotten worse as I get older

[graysky]

Hi lollylegs,

I too have found my nausea has gotten worse over the years. I have never experienced bowel problems, mine is always nausea and vomiting related. Getting help was my only option, I would avoid food all together by not eating and having as much coffee as I could keep down without being sick, and then it got to the point where I was losing too much weight.