Written by Medicover Team and Medically Reviewed by Dr M Kalyan Ravi Teja, General Surgeon

Anxiety and Vomiting: Causes and Remedies

Anxiety is a complicated condition that can look different in everyone, complete with physical symptoms. One particularly distressing symptom is anxiety and a sensation.

While it's widely acknowledged that anxiety can lead to various gastrointestinal issues, the connection between panic attacks and vomiting is less commonly discussed.

This article investigates the complex relationship between extreme anxiety, explaining how psychological strain can lead to such extreme bodily reactions.

Physiology of Anxiety

Genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors can contribute to anxiety in adults and teenagers. Worry is a sympathetic nervous system response; anxiety a parasympathic approach. Windowpaned, the autonomic nervous system is a way of coaxing the body: fight, flight, freeze, and fold. The sympathetic nervous system activates the “fight or flight” response, releasing adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that prepare the body to cope with perceived threats.

Neurotransmitters and Hormones

Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine play a pivotal role in regulating mood and anxiety. Hormones like cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone, also significantly impact how the body responds to stress.

Elevated levels of cortisol can disrupt various bodily functions, including digestion, which can contribute to anxiety and vomiting in adults.

How Anxiety Affects the Digestive System?

The gastrointestinal (GI) system is susceptible to emotional states. When anxiety strikes, it can lead to an array of digestive issues, including nausea, bloating, and vomiting.

This phenomenon is often referred to as the "gut-brain axis," highlighting the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the digestive tract.

The Gut-Brain Axis

The gut-brain axis involves intricate signaling between the gastrointestinal system and the brain. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in this communication, transmitting signals from the gut to the brain and vice versa.

When anxiety medications fail to manage stress effectively, the anxiety and vomiting sensation can worsen, disrupting normal digestive processes.

Stress and Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Stress-induced gastrointestinal symptoms are common and can manifest in various ways. For instance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often exacerbated by stress. Similarly, anxiety and vomiting in teenagers can lead to an increase in stomach acid production, which can cause nausea and vomiting.

Anxiety-Induced Vomiting

Vomiting from anxiety is a serious and often debilitating symptom. Rehabilitation of the condition could be better understood through these underlying mechanisms.

The Role of the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is instrumental in controlling the muscles of the stomach and intestines. When anxiety triggers the release of stress hormones, it can overstimulate the vagus nerve, leading to nausea and vomiting. This response is a protective mechanism, preparing the body to expel harmful substances during times of stress.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Anxiety

In some instances, vomiting induced by anxiety can become so extreme it resembles conditions such as hyperemesis gravidarum, a form of extreme morning sickness during pregnancy. The causes may vary, but the physiological response involving the vagus nerve and stress hormones is strikingly similar.

Coping Strategies and Treatments

Adults/teenagers with anxiety and vomiting: Management Psychological and pharmacological treatments may both help in decreasing stress and alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms.

Psychological Interventions

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. CBT helps individuals identify and challenge irrational thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and other relaxation techniques can also be beneficial in managing anxiety and reducing the severity of physical symptoms like vomiting.

Pharmacological Treatments

Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines can be effective in managing anxiety. However, these medications should be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider due to potential side effects and the risk of dependency.

Dietary and Lifestyle Changes

Making dietary changes may be a part of coping with gastrointestinal problems that may be linked with anxiety. They include foods rich in fibre for digestion, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol to lower anxiety levels. Maintaining regular physical activity and getting adequate sleep are also important in managing anxiety.

Anxiety and Vomiting in the Morning

Morning anxiety can be particularly distressing, often accompanied by nausea or a vomiting sensation soon after waking. This is commonly triggered by cortisol levels peaking in the morning, which may intensify stress responses. For individuals experiencing anxiety and vomiting in the morning, techniques such as a gentle morning routine, light stretching, and avoiding caffeine may reduce symptoms.

Anxiety and Vomiting in Children

Children may also experience anxiety and vomiting, especially before school, exams, or social events. Unlike adults, children often struggle to articulate anxiety, which can instead show up as physical complaints like stomachaches or nausea. Understanding the emotional triggers and providing reassurance, along with child-focused CBT, can help manage anxiety and vomiting in children effectively..

Anxiety and Vomiting Feeling: How It Starts

Many people report a strong anxiety and feeling that begins in the chest or stomach, often described as a knot or flutter. This sensation of nausea is usually due to overstimulation of the vagus nerve and can escalate quickly if not managed early.

Managing the Anxiety and Vomiting Sensation

To reduce the anxiety and vomiting sensation, try slow diaphragmatic breathing, sipping cool water, or using aromatherapy with peppermint or ginger oils. These can help settle the stomach and relax the nervous system.

Anxiety and Vomiting in Adults

In adults, chronic stress at work, relationship struggles, or financial pressure are frequent triggers for anxiety and vomiting. Long-term management should include both medical assessment and therapy, especially if symptoms start to interfere with daily routines or cause frequent absences from work.

When to Seek Professional Help?

While it is common to feel anxious and sometimes nauseated, persistent symptoms should be professionally evaluated. For more severe, frequent, and debilitating episodes of anxiety-induced vomiting, it's important to reach out to a healthcare provider for a full evaluation and an individualised treatment plan.

Diagnostic Tests

A complete medical assessment might involve blood tests, imaging scans, and possibly endoscopy to eliminate other possible causes of vomiting. Psychological assessments can help determine the severity of anxiety and identify any coexisting mental health conditions.

Integrated Care Approach

Keeping in mind that an integrated care strategy, which is medical, psychological and lifestyle-based , is considered most effective in the management of anxiety and co-morbid symptoms. Such coordination between primary care providers, gastroenterologists, and mental health workers can improve outcomes.

Conclusion

Anxiety and vomiting are interrelated, and understanding this connection is imperative to managing and treating both. This highlights the importance of addressing both the mental aspects of anxiety and the physical aspects of anxiety in recognising how the nervous system and the digestive tract interact with one another. Making changes at the psychological, pharmacological and lifestyle levels can greatly decrease the influence of anxiety on gut health.

Frequently Asked Questions