Many people feel sick to their stomach or like throwing up when experiencing intense anxiousness. In fact, over half of those with diagnosed anxiety disorders struggle with nausea as a symptom.

While anxiety doesn’t always lead to nausea, it’s real discomfort for numerous individuals. Some notice mild queasiness, while others cannot function from severe nausea.

Luckily, occasional nausea related only to anxiety usually goes away after relaxation. But if nausea remains regular or serious, see a doctor. Additional medical issues could play a role needing addressing.

This article looks at how anxiety causes nausea and offers relief strategies. No matter the nausea levels from anxiety, individuals aren’t alone in their experiences. Steps exist to support improved overall health and cutting back on discomfort disrupting day-to-day activities too.

With management understanding connections between anxiousness and nausea, together we can overcome. Learning techniques for reducing queasiness empowers taking back control from fears sabotaging the quality of life.

What Is Anxiety Nausea?

Anxiety is usually a reaction to stress that can manifest itself in a range of psychological and physical symptoms. You may notice that your heart rate and breathing increase when you are too nervous. There’s also a chance you’ll feel nauseous.

What Causes Anxiety And Nausea?

Anxiety causes the body’s natural “fight or flight” response which prepares a person for an emergency. This reaction helps ensure survival when really needed. However, when anxiety arises, the body releases hormones signaling the brain.

As a result, heart rate and breathing both speed up. Muscles become tense while more blood rushes to the brain. This biological response actually impacts nearly every major system in the body like circulation, hormone levels, muscles, nerves, reproduction, and breathing.

One place feeling stress effects involves digestive issues. The stomach and intestines can start suffering problems such as heartburn, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, gas and bloating. All this occurs as part of anxiousness’ normal reaction to prepare us physically for threats whether real or imagined.

But while useful in true danger, everyday anxiety brings problems while providing no benefits of the fight or flight mechanism. Understanding why anxiety harms health in this way helps address physical symptoms alongside related mental concerns.

When Should You See A Doctor?

It’s time to contact your doctor if anxiety and nausea affect your quality of life and you can’t manage it on your own. Always try to request a referral to a mental health expert if it is not due to a medical ailment.

Treatments For Coping With Anxiety-Induced Nausea

Most of the time, anxiety is not a cause for concern. On the contrary, it is a natural response to stress, threat, or danger. So, nausea isn’t dangerous if it is related to anxiety. It’s comforting to know that your body isn’t in any danger as long as you’ve addressed other health issues. Your therapist has to confirm that anxiety is the reason for your nausea. Instead, it will help if you regulate your anxiousness to control your nausea.

Practice physical exercises

When your body is stressed, it produces muscle tension in your belly. It results in the sensation we know as nausea. Stress also raises your adrenaline levels. It affects other hormones in your body, such as your stomach lining and food digestion. Physical activity relaxes your muscles. It reduces the amount of stress they place on your digestive system. It also helps regulate hormones by lowering the amount of adrenaline produced in the body. It helps to decrease anxiety and nausea levels.

Physical activity releases endorphins, or “feel-good” neurotransmitters. It boosts your mood while lowering anxiety and nausea.

Have a balanced diet

Everything in the human body is linked. You can’t enhance your mental health without simultaneously improving your physical health. A holistic approach is necessary when it comes to anxiety, nausea, and sickness. It includes keeping track of what you put in your body. Eliminating foods heavy in salt or fat can help to alleviate nausea. Avoid eating on an empty stomach; overeating can also cause nausea. To avoid increasing your anxiety-related nausea by dehydration, drink the recommended amount of water. It should be based on your demographics.

Practice deep breathing

Practicing deep breathing is a great stress-reduction method. It can manage your reaction to extreme stress. It calms your heart and mind by taking slow, controlled breaths. Sit in a chair and gently inhale through your nose for 5 seconds. Hold your breath for 4 seconds. Now, slowly exhale through pursed lips. Repeat ten times. Progressive muscle relaxation and visualization are two other relaxation approaches.

Drink enough water

Water can keep your body hydrated. Dehydration can aggravate stomach problems, and it’s known to increase anxiety disorders. So, drinking water can be used as an anxiety disorder treatment. Just be careful not to drink too much water too quickly, or you may experience minor nausea.

Consider therapies

Therapies can help you manage anxiety. Here are several therapies you can consider.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): The goal of CBT is to modify problematic thought habits. A therapist assists the person in identifying anxious thoughts. The patient develops skills for responding to ideas in a more positive and constructive way.
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy: This style of therapy aims to address the source of a person’s anxiety. It may help with stress brought on by a traumatic event or a deep-seated emotional problem.

Take medicine under the guidance of a doctor

A doctor may prescribe medication in some instances. When drugs are used in conjunction with talk therapy, they can be pretty beneficial.

The following are some of the most regularly prescribed anti-anxiety medications by doctors:

• Anti-anxiety medications: Anxiety is relieved with benzodiazepines such as clonazepam (Klonopin) and alprazolam (Xanax). Doctors recommend them for short-term use. There is a substantial danger of physical dependence. For longer-term anxiety treatment, they may prescribe the medication buspirone (Buspar).
• Antidepressants: Antidepressants like sertraline are prescribed by doctors for long-term treatment. It is for panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
• Beta-blockers: Beta-blockers work by lowering blood pressure and slowing the heart rate. Doctors prescribe them for predictable anxiety attacks.

Conclusion

Anxiety is a very common and natural reaction to a threat or danger. Treating anxiety is crucial for you. This occurs when the brain produces neurotransmitters to prepare the body for flight. When these neurotransmitters enter the digestive tract, they disrupt the gut microbiota. It causes nausea and other stomach symptoms.

Anxiety is a typical bodily response to stress for most people, so it’s nothing to worry about. People can use various ways to deal with your stress and anxiety symptoms in their daily lives. Anxiety emotions that occur frequently can sometimes be a sign of an anxiety disorder. If anxiety is interfering with a person’s daily life, they should see a doctor.

Authored By

Shebna N Osanmoh I, PMHNP-BC

March 19, 2024

Shebna N Osanmoh is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience across the mental health spectrum. Holding a Master’s in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing from Walden University, Shebna provides compassionate, culturally sensitive care for a wide range of mental health conditions, emphasizing holistic and individualized treatment approaches to support patients in their wellness journey.