Can anxiety make you vomit?

Are you feeling nauseous because of an upcoming presentation or a difficult conversation with your boss? Don’t worry, this is a common symptom of anxiety. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, and even vomiting. But why does anxiety lead to puking? Let’s dive into the science behind it!

The link between anxiety and the digestive system

Your brain affects every part of your body including the digestive system. Anxiety triggers a “fight or flight” response in your brain which releases adrenaline and cortisol hormones that prepare your body for danger.

This rush of hormones causes several changes in your body such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and redirection of blood flow from non-essential organs to muscles used for fighting or running away.

The problem arises when these same stress hormones affect digestion. Adrenaline reduces blood flow to the stomach making it harder for food to be digested properly leading to nausea and vomiting.

Another reason could be that intense emotions stimulate contractions in the intestines causing food to move through quicker than usual resulting in diarrhea or vomiting.

Types Of Anxiety That Causes Vomiting

Not all types of anxiety leads necessarily ends up with puking; some people may get panic attacks while others sweat profusely but not vomit at all. However there are certain types that seem more likely to cause gastrointestinal distress including:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive worrying about smaller things too without any apparent reason which leads them feeling tense & stressed almost always continuously over extended periods/periodically.

Symptoms:

1) Irritation
2) Constant worrying
3) Muscle tension
4) Headaches
5) Difficulty sleeping

Social Phobia / Social Anxiety Disorder

Social phobia also known as social anxiousness usually stems from fear of social situations especially the fear of being judged by society, public speaking, performing on stage etc.

Symptoms:

1) Rapid heartbeat
2) sweating
3) trembling
4) dizziness

Health Anxiety / Illness Anxiety Disorder

Health anxiety has been known to be triggered if someone “Googles” symptoms and starts overthinking slowly getting convinced that they have contracted a certain illness/ disease hence causing fear which leads the body to react in stressful ways & make them feel sick when there is no actual physical cause for it.

Symptoms:

1) Focus on bodily sensations
2) Over-Worrying about health conditions
3) Requesting feedback from healthcare providers or Googling frequently.

What Are The Other Symptoms Of Vomiting From Anxiety?

Vomiting may not happen right away with an episode of anxiety. But as you experience these other signs, know that vomiting might soon follow:

  • Queasy feeling in your stomach
  • Increased saliva production (yuck!)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Sweating

One way to prevent nausea is by practicing various relaxation techniques available like deep breathing exercises or meditation whenever a wave of anxious feeling strikes; this has shown positive results with people experiencing significantly lower levels of nausea/vomiting. Understandably this can take time and practice so don’t get discouraged.

Another great piece of advice would be monitoring what you consume before an important event/triggers such as sugar caffeine alcohol etc could trigger your upset stomach

When Does It End? (Treatment Options)

It’s understandable wanting to cure yourself quickly but remember treating sudden spells/anxiety attacks isn’t a long-term solution always since the issue lies within daily stressors & constant triggers psychologists suggest identifying those anxiety culprits beforehand itself to learn coping mechanisms appropriate towards situations rather than relying heavily on medication usage all the time however below are some treatment options for momentary relief:

CBD Oil

CBD (cannabidiol) present in hemp has shown that it may help with relieving anxiety, nausea and vomiting.

Pro Tip: Always make sure you get your hands on a lab-tested product before use to be confident about its purity and potency

Anti-Anxiety Medication

Anti-anxiety medications are prescription drugs that can aid the calming down of anxiety hence reducing symptoms.

Common anti-anxiety includes benzodiazepines, like Valium or Xanax, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like Zoloft. If unsure do consult your physician/ healthcare provider

Before You Go…

Remember not everyone necessarily gets nauseous from feelings of panic so this article is severely skewed towards people who have & especially those looking for relevant information surrounding it all !

Additionally we understand how hard vulnerable topics can be so kudos on making through this whole thing! Bravo!
Lastly remember it’s totally normal experiencing physical distress due to anxiety & please don’t resort to self-medication; always seek professional help if you deem necessary!

Keep safe folks!

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