Most of us have a direct experience of how chronic, or intense, stress can affect our digestive system. The ancient physicians of Chinese Medicine also held that the intestines (especially the liver) were a seat of emotions. Modern science explains the condition, finding that up to 90% of our neurotransmitters and hormones are actually produced in the gut.
What Happens To Digestion When We Are Depressed
What most of us do not know, at least in a sense, is that the digestive system is actually controlled by the Central Nervous System, which is a small branch of the nervous system called the "parasympathetic nervous system". In fact, the parasympathetic system is our state of "rest and digestion". Only when we are relaxed and relieved of stress when the parasympathetic system is therefore digesting, does it work?
When we enter a state of depression, a partner in the parasympathetic system; the system of empathy, works. This stress state or response to "flying or fighting" closes the digestive tract by reducing blood flow to the digestive tract, inhibits digestive fluids, and instead sends blood and natural energy to the muscular system to prepare for war.
When the sensor system is constantly stimulated by prolonged stress, it can cause intestinal upset, inflammation, and weakened immune systems.
One example of how stress can cause common digestive problems is by causing the esophagus to have a spasm and reversing the release of stomach acid. This causes heartburn, and acid reflux and can make you feel nauseous. Another example is the effects of stress on the colon. Excessive stress increases the production of the stress hormones cortisol, prolactin, and serotonin, which can cause the colon to become overworked or overweight, leading to diarrhea or constipation.
If any of these conditions persist, inflammation and general malfunction of the digestive system can eventually lead to gastric ulcers, IBS, and inflammatory bowel disease.
How to Manage Depression To Eat Better Food
Reducing total stress is not a quick fix, it requires a holistic, multi-faceted approach. Depression, however, is one of the main, depressing effects on the digestive system. While it may take some time to discover the causes of depression, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the effects.
Another easy way to reduce stress is to engage in wholesome, moderate exercise. Exercise reduces tension, drains our heads, and improves our mood by releasing endorphins but also helps eliminate stress hormones. Some of the most healthy forms of exercise include walking, walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, yoga, thai qi, and lifting weights.
Other effective ways to reduce stress include:
Rest - People with digestive problems are often very depressed and do not get enough rest. Finding true, deep relaxation is very challenging in today's world but can be achieved with yoga, meditation, continuous muscle relaxation, visualization, mental therapy, biofeedback, fun music, spending time in nature, camping, making love, and working out. a fun project or hobby.
Communication Therapy - The main source of stress lies in the world of communication. In fact, many stressors in life are the result of communication problems. If you have been in a situation where you do not know what to say, or if someone has not spoken to you, you know the stress that comes with not communicating properly. Taking classes or reading books to communicate can be helpful in improving our quality of life, and relationships and reducing the major source of stress. However, having a good friend or someone you can talk to openly about your depression can be a major factor in reducing stress. Personally, I have found psychotherapy as a great help in relieving chronic stress in my life. There are even demonic studies that have reported a 70 percent improvement in depressive symptoms after 12 weeks of psychiatric treatment.
Nutrition - Poor diet can damage a good digestive system. Malnutrition can be a source of biological stress, but also, eating a healthy diet can help prevent the effects of stress. Generally, it is helpful to eat a lot of protein and salt when you are stressed. In fact, soldiers in the military are required to eat a high-protein diet in order to minimize the harmful effects of the fighting. Therefore, it is best to take a two-dimensional diet, where you avoid unhealthy foods that add to your stress and eat nutritious, healthy foods that help replenish the depressed body.
Choose your battles - The great thing about life is that problems seem important. If we did not have any problems at all, we would be bored. Therefore, the goal is not to eliminate all problems and stress that shape our lives. Instead, we need to choose our problems wisely. For example, starting a new and satisfying relationship will have your challenges, but in the end, the problems are usually worth it. The same goes for starting a new project or goal. A good rule of thumb is that any situation in life can be 80% fun with 20% pain, pain being the total amount of stress that makes it interesting and helps us grow.
In conclusion
Depression and mood disorders can cause many problems in a healthy digestive system. Stress all together is inevitable, it seems to be a natural part of the game of life. What matters is how we respond to our stresses and problems, and how we ultimately avoid them being incurable. If you know you are under a lot of stress and/or have symptoms of digestive depression, these tips will help you. If stress management is a problem, there are psychologists, yoga practitioners, and therapists who can provide guaranteed help.
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