Eating and gastric issues

Eating and gastric issues linked with anxiety

Why? Do you ask yourself, would a resource for swallowing issues have a section on gastric problems such as GERD and IBS?

The answer is that they are part of the system which starts at the mouth and ends at your anus. Everything in between is affected by stress, anxiety, what you eat, illnesses and medication.

Many of our clients, as well as having swallowing/speaking issues also have problems with:

• Emetophobia - fear of vomiting or other people vomiting, including nausea and vomiting due to stress.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome - stress-induced fluctuation between constipation and diarrhoea

• Functional Dyspepsia (Indigestion without clear cause)

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

• Gastric Emptying Disorders (e.g., Functional Gastroparesis)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation, or both). While its precise cause is multifactorial and not entirely understood, a substantial body of research links IBS with anxiety and stress-related disorders.

Functional MRI studies have shown that people with IBS often have abnormal brain responses to gut stimulation, reinforcing the theory that emotional states directly influence gut functioning. Additionally, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which governs stress responses, plays a role in gut motility and inflammation. Chronic activation of this system due to ongoing anxiety can worsen IBS symptoms.

Psychological treatments, especially those focused on stress and anxiety management, are considered evidence-based interventions for IBS. Gut-directed hypnotherapy has shown positive outcomes in reducing symptom severity. Introduced by Dr Peter Whorwell in Manchester, UK, NICE now recommend gut-directed hypnotherapy to aid this problem.

Many clients, as well as a fear of swallowing or speaking, show signs of IBS as well.

Other related gastric disorders

Over the past 10 years, there has been growing research into the link between the gut biome and mental health. Researchers have found that mood is associated with inflammation, and inflammation directly affects pain and physical disorders like arthritis. The source of this inflammation can be dietary - links to diabetes, for example. It can happen because of medication and the use of antibiotics. Frequently, the body restores equilibrium; occasionally, it does not.

The best advice for better gut and mental health is to take up the Mediterranean-style diet with low processed foods and high amounts of fresh, high fibre fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, having a problem such as phagophobia often means the individual is having very limited variety, as they stick to protein shakes, soups, yogurt and mashed potatoes so this could have an amplifying effect on their disruptive gut biome.

Our therapists trained in nutritional therapy can help guide individuals to try a broader range of foods and supplements.