Stress doesn’t just affect your brain; It also directly affects your body. Many people experience pressure, heaviness in the stomach or a sudden urge to go to the toilet when they are stressed. This reaction is not imaginary; This is a biological process. In medical science, this phenomenon is explained through the gut-brain axis. Let’s find out more.
What is the reason for this?
Whenever you feel stressed, anxious, or nervous, your brain sees it as a threat and activates the body’s fight-or-flight response. During this time, the brain signals the adrenal glands to release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare the body to react quickly by increasing the heart rate, tightening the muscles, and increasing alertness.
connection between gut and brain
There are millions of neurons in the human intestine. It is often called the second brain or the enteric nervous system. It constantly communicates with the brain through nerves and chemical messengers. During stress, the brain sends distress signals directly to the gut. This is the reason why the muscles of the stomach and intestines contract more forcefully.
Stress drains energy from digestion
When stress hormones flood the body, energy is diverted from non-essential functions like digestion to the muscles and organs needed for survival. Digestion slows down in the small intestine, and activity increases in the large intestine. This causes swelling, heaviness and uncomfortable pressure in the stomach.
Why do we feel butterflies in the stomach or cramps during stress?
The familiar feeling of butterflies in the stomach is actually caused by rapid muscle contractions and changes in blood flow in the digestive tract. Stress reduces the blood supply to the intestines and increases the sensitivity of the nerves. This makes even mild digestion feel uncomfortable or painful. About 95% of the body’s serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that regulates mood, is made in the gut. Stress disrupts the balance of serotonin, which affects both emotional stability and digestion.
