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Mind + Gut

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According to Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Researchers are finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (CNS) that trigger mood changes.”

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Although you may not always realize it, your feelings can have a huge connection to stomach issues and symptoms you sometimes feel. This is all thanks to your CNS (your central nervous system) which tells your brain how you’re feeling, especially in times of pain or distress like a stomach ache, for example. From there, your brain can make you feel anxious or irritated, so much so that you are now in a very negative, sad or angry mood. Once you enter this extreme mindspace, your brain can amplify the discomfort in your gastrointestinal tract that you are already feeling, making your stomach symptoms worse.

 

In order to avoid this situation, when stomach pain comes up, we find it helpful to distract ourselves, try to think relaxing/calm thoughts, and remember that discomfort is generally temporary. So, next time you start to get wrapped up in anxious thoughts while experiencing stomach discomfort, remember to not get yourself too worked up about it mentally, so that physically your actual stomach symptoms don't worsen. You've got this!

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For more information, visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection

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