When you are in your Emotionally breaking pointFeeling physically bad is the last thing you need — but often, the two go hand in hand. Although the pairing may seem random, it can be accompanied by tension Bloating (And even others Digestive issues), experts tell SELF, even if your diet hasn’t changed at all. Meaning: If you’re having a bad day, you may start to notice some stomach discomfort in addition to everything else.
There’s even a name for this connection, which you’ve probably heard before: the gut-brain axis. “Our gut is like our second brain, and is strongly influenced by our nervous system.” Rebecca Ditkoff, MPH, RDa certified intuitive eating consultant and owner of the New York City-based private label Nutrition by RD, tells SELF. for you Digestive system It can reflect your emotional state because the two are closely related.
While the gut-brain axis can work to your advantage when you’re on top of the world, it’s not necessarily on your side in this specific scenario (as your stomach knows all too well). Here’s how stress can lead to bloating through this pathway, and what you can do to make yourself feel better in body and mind.
Why can stress cause bloating?
Your enteric nervous system, a component of the autonomic nervous system, serves your digestive system and regulates digestion, so it is responsible for the connection between the two. “We kind of exist in two states (the nervous system).” Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN (also known as a hormonal nutritionist), a practitioner who specializes in women’s health, tells SELF. First, there is Fight or flight (We’ll delve into the second case, rest and digest, more in the next section): Some sources of danger (such as a pack of prehistoric wolves, or a missed deadline in 2026) trigger extreme emotional distress, releasing a flood of stress hormones –CortisolEpinephrine (known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine (or noradrenaline) – from the adrenal glands. In retrospect, these physiological changes would have prepared you to either flee (flight) or stand still (fight).
During this physiological shift, your digestive system essentially shuts down to allow your body to prioritize escape over food breakdown, according to Azzaro. (Because in a classic fight-or-flight situation, the former would obviously be much more important than the latter.) Essentially, “all the blood is pulled away from your digestive system and toward your muscles” so you have the energy to run, Azzaro explains. Digestive muscle contractions are diminished, as is the production of digestive secretions.
