Vomiting from stress

Vomiting can have many different causes. Most people know it as a symptom of a gastrointestinal infection. But vomiting can have other causes besides infection.

An example of this is vomiting from stress. Usually these are situations of great tension, in which vomiting can occur. Almost everyone knows the typical uncomfortable feeling in the stomach area in such a situation. Vomiting from stress follows the same mechanism. Not only situations of high tension, but also lighter stress over a longer period of time can hit the stomach.

causes

As part of the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach has its own nervous system. This so-called enteric nervous system consists of millions of nerve cells, which are primarily responsible for regulating bowel activity. The brain can influence the enteric nervous system through hormones or direct connections. In this way, the intestinal activity is adapted to the external circumstances.

In stressful situations you are under great pressure. The body assumes that it is in a dangerous situation. Nowadays it can be, for example, an exam or an unpleasant interview.

Even several thousand years ago, however, this could pose a threat to life and limb. Due to the perceived dangerous situation, the body falls back on mechanisms from this time. Since digestion is not of great short-term benefit to survival in dangerous situations, it is downregulated. Thousands of years ago, this was a sensible reaction to devote more energy to fight or flight. It initially manifests itself as a feeling of malaise or slight nausea. This is literally also known as having a bad gut feeling.
Also read: Symptoms of stress

• In the case of very strong stress, it can happen that the body does not know how to help itself other than to excrete the food as quickly as possible. Diarrhea and vomiting occur. This is especially the case in situations that are perceived as threatening and particularly hopeless. The nausea before an important examination is therefore typical. The test is stressful and is seen as a danger by the body. At the same time, there is no reasonable way to bypass the exam. This leads to great stress for the body.

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diagnosis

A diagnosis of stress vomiting is not easy to make. Other causes of vomiting must be ruled out. These include gastrointestinal infections but also less common diseases such as disorders of the esophagus or migraines.

The timing of vomiting is an important differentiator. Typically, stressful vomiting occurs in situations of greatest tension. However, in some cases such tension cannot be consciously perceived. If there is a single vomiting under very strong stress, this can still be a normal reaction of the body.

Above all, frequent or very severe vomiting should be checked by a doctor. Also accompanying symptoms like Dizziness, ringing in the ears, diarrhea, feeling unwell or blurred vision can be an important clue to the cause of vomiting. If there is no more vomiting after reducing stress, this can be another important indicator of vomiting due to stress.

Also read: Vomiting, dizziness with nausea

Concomitant symptoms

Not only vomiting can occur under stress. Stress can cause a wide range of symptoms. Diarrhea often occurs. Most of those affected notice a queasy feeling in the stomach area as the first symptom. An increased urge to urinate is also typical in stress-related situations. Because of the excitement, stressed people may feel restless and there may be a slight tremor.

If the stress persists over a longer period of time, other symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension or digestive problems can occur. Problems of balance or hearing can also occur under stress. This also includes tinnitus. In addition, high blood pressure can be the result of prolonged stress. This is a potentially dangerous symptom that should not be underestimated.

nausea

In many cases, the person concerned feels sick before vomiting. It can also cause uncomfortable pressure or pulling in the stomach area.

In the case of nausea, too, it is important to see a doctor if the cause is unclear or if it persists over a longer period of time. The nausea can occur even without vomiting. It has causes similar to vomiting from stress. Under stress, the intestines are influenced by special parts of the brain. In stressful situations, the body tries to use its resources for the short-term important organs such as the brain, muscles or heart. For this reason, the gastrointestinal activity is negatively affected by stress. There is nausea.

Also read: Abdominal pain and nausea, nausea, home remedies for nausea

Vomiting blood

Vomiting blood is a serious symptom. It indicates damage to the esophagus, stomach and the first sections of the intestine. A common source of bleeding is stomach or duodenal ulcer.

Although stress can negatively affect the development of such ulcers, the cause is often different.

• In many cases it is an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
• Another source of bleeding is esophageal varicose veins. They mainly occur in liver diseases, which restrict the flow of blood through the liver.
• In addition, a malignant disease such as stomach cancer can always cause bloody vomiting.
• In less dramatic cases, however, the blood can also come from the nose and throat area.

Due to the multitude of possible causes, bloody vomiting should not be dismissed as a symptom of stress and should be examined by a doctor.

Read more on the subject at: Vomiting blood, bleeding in the stomach

stomach pain

Stomach pain can also occur under stress. They can also occur without additional vomiting. Their strength can vary widely. Anyone who has already experienced an exciting or stressful situation, for example before an exam or an important conversation, usually knows the queasy feeling in the stomach area associated with it.

But also clearly stronger and very unpleasant complaints can occur in particularly stressful situations. As with vomiting caused by stress, the cause of stomach pain is often an influence on the function of the stomach by the body in stressful situations. But stress does not always have to be the cause of stomach pain. Above all, stomach pain that lasts for a long time should therefore be examined by a doctor. Stress can also affect the severity of stomach pain that is already there.

Also read: Stomach pain, stomach pain with nausea

Treatment / therapy

Stressful vomiting can be treated in different ways.

• In the short term, medication can help relieve nausea. However, this is not a causal treatment of the symptoms.
• If a very current situation is the trigger of great stress, therapy may not be necessary.

For example, if it is a sudden bereavement or an important exam, vomiting should stop again after the situation has been overcome. However, frequent or recurring stress can lead to frequent vomiting. This should be addressed.

The important thing is to alleviate the stress or at least create better strategies for coping with stress.

• Regular time-outs to prevent permanent stress are very important.

Stress often occurs in situations that are felt to be insoluble or overwhelming. It can be helpful to find strategies for solving such situations.

• This includes clear agreements or precise work instructions if there are problems in everyday work.
• It can also be useful to practice dealing with stress in certain situations. This includes, for example, progressive muscle relaxation.

If all of this is not enough, professional help should be sought. Psychotherapeutic treatment can improve coping with stress or help resolve conflicts. A conversation with your family doctor can often be a first step in this direction.

Also read: Relieve stress, how to improve your stress resistance

Duration / forecast

Because stress vomiting is highly dependent on the cause of the stress, its duration can vary.

If the situation is acute, such as an important test, it is assumed that vomiting will stop after the trigger has been overcome. If this is not the case, another cause could have triggered the vomiting.

However, stress can persist over a longer period of time and thus repeatedly lead to vomiting. In this case, treatment, possibly with psychotherapeutic support, should be carried out. If this does not happen, vomiting may even worsen or further symptoms may occur. Such treatment may also take a longer period of time.

Typically, vomiting from stress goes away once the stress is relieved or ways are found to manage the stress well.

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