Gut Feelings: When Stress Talks Back

For as long as I can remember, I have always had gut issues. Foods would always affect me in a certain way, whether it was a physical sensation or a mental sensation. It wasn’t until recently that I started to realize that the gut-brain connection, often called the gut-brain axis, is the two-way communication between our brain (the central nervous system) and our digestive system (the enteric nervous system). It is not just about digestion—it’s a complex conversation involving nerves, hormones, and even the immune system (Seaward, 2020). When we are stressed, our body enters a state of fight-or-flight mode, releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones reroute energy and blood flow away from your digestive organs to your muscles and other critical areas to prepare for action. As a result, digestion slows down, nutrient absorption can suffer, and your gut might feel out of sync (Psychreg, 2024).

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Intro