Panic attacks=bad stomach

[robsgal]

Hello,
My name is Martha I'm from Mexico, I recently moved to the UK because I got married and I been having panic attacks. But them been always related to my stomach. And my question is... Can stomach feelings cuase panic attacks feelings??? Or thanks to the panic attacks I have a bad stomach??

[robsgal]

Help please

[Vixxy]

Since christmas my anxiety has all been around my stomach. Ive lost a lot of weight as I just found it so hard to eat. Im slowly getting past that now, but its still a problem.
What sets your anxiety off?

[miss_moose]

Hellos Robsgal,
I get alot of stomach symptoms with panic, when i'm feeling anxious i get stomach ache, and cramps that can lead to diareah, also like my stomach is jolting and doing somersalts.

It's a very common thing xxx

[Meltdown]

Panic and anxiety are all related to the release of adrenalin, often in inappropriate situations, where we don't really need, or welcome it!

Along with all the other symptoms of raised heartbeat, faster breathing, sweating, palpitations, etc adrenaline also causes the blood supply to be diverted away from the stomach to the muscles, ready for "fight or flight" consequently, digestion does not work well, and there is also a tendency for the body to try to get rid of food it does not need - hence nausea and diahorrea!

Also, my CBT practitioner told me that as we associate stomach symptoms with panic, genuine stomach problems (like indigestion) can sometimes cause feelings of anxiety, due to the mental link we have made between symptoms and panic/anxiety. So I guess it is a kind of "chicken and egg" situation!

[kirsty74]

I have IBS and this is actually what started my anxiety & panic attacks.

[verity]

When im really anxious, I cannot eat and feel sick. Its horrible, cos when im ok I have a good appetite

I find it was the anxiety that caused my stomach problems. If you cannot eat try some nursihment drinks I used to live on those!

xxx