Anxiety has different effects on every person. For the most part, all of us have experienced some of the side effects associated with anxiety at some point or another. Many of us are aware of what we should be doing to take care of our minds and bodies, but this can be easier said than done.
So many of us are dependent on our routines, the money we earn, and managing our family that we become vulnerable to disruptions or added challenges that can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed by negative thoughts and emotions.
While attention in our society has slowly shifted to the importance of slowing down, being present, and incorporating meditation into our daily routines, these tools can still feel like they are not enough which can result in undereating caused by anxiety.
What Does Anxiety Do to Our Bodies?
The feeling of never being able to slow down leaves our bodies in “survival mode,” and this directly impacts other things such as our appetites. The activated sympathetic nervous system releases stress hormones that affect the digestive system in a suboptimal way.
Some individuals feel the need to eat more when they’re stressed out, while others tend to skip meals and barely eat. When one engages in either habit over a long period, there can be ramifications on overall health and wellness.
What Can Be Done to Overcome the Symptoms?
Taking supplements like Fortify Probiotics from InterPlexus or 101 Stress & Fatigue Relief from Kyolic can provide the body with additional support during stressful times and periods of undereating caused by anxiety. You can also look at a-Drenal from RLC Labs that is an herbal and glandular supplement that seeks to support stress and adrenal fatigue.
You might be wondering how nourishing your gut health can help symptoms associated with anxiety. It has been found that our gut has millions of neurons, leading some people to refer to it as the “second brain.”
So there is some truth behind why “gut-feelings” are often correct. With that being said, our gut can communicate with our brains and tell us when something isn’t quite right. The problem with the feeling of continually being in overdrive is that the gut and brain axis can sense when the mind and body are strained, and that stress can negatively impact the GI tract. Those anxious symptoms can result in a variety of digestive issues like nausea and indigestion because the gut and brain perceive anxiety as a threat.
Aiming for eight hours of sleep, bursts of exercise multiple times a week, and making time to eat nourishing meals can also be used to help manage stress. Journaling, engaging in self-care routines, and talking out feelings with loved ones also can help to ease feelings of nervousness that impact eating habits.
