How GI-Related Pain Can Cause Depression and Anxiety

Chronic GI-related pain can have effects on more than your physical health. People with digestive conditions like acid reflux, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have symptoms with far-reaching effects on their digestive tract and mental health. 

If you have GI-related pain, it can create a cascade of emotional distress, often leading to depression and anxiety.

Here at Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Kierstin Beaman, DACM, focuses on the powerful connection between GI pain and mental well-being, and how acupuncture can help alleviate both physical discomfort and emotional strain.

The connection between GI pain and mental health

The gut and brain are deeply interconnected through a complex network known as the gut-brain axis, which communicates signals between the gastrointestinal system and the brain. Chronic GI pain can disrupt this system and trigger or worsen mental health issues, leading to symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

Ongoing pain from GI issues activates your body’s stress response, increasing cortisol levels. High stress can make it harder to manage emotions, potentially triggering or worsening anxiety and feelings of hopelessness.

Research links chronic inflammation in the gut to changes in brain chemistry that can lead to mood disturbances, including depression. Inflammatory signals from the gut can disrupt the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood.

An imbalance in the gut bacteria (dysbiosis) is often found in individuals with chronic GI conditions and has been associated with anxiety and depression. The gut microbiome plays an important role in regulating mood, and disruptions can lead to emotional instability.

What’s more is that constant GI discomfort can lead to social withdrawal as you avoid situations where symptoms might flare up. This isolation can increase feelings of loneliness, contributing to mental health challenges.

How acupuncture can help

Acupuncture offers a holistic and effective way to address both the physical and emotional aspects of GI-related chronic pain. By targeting specific points, acupuncture helps restore balance to the gut-brain axis and improve mental well-being. 

Regular acupuncture treatments help to balance the nervous system, promoting communication between the gut and the brain. This can reduce the signals that contribute to both physical pain and emotional distress.

Acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms, too, reducing inflammation and alleviating discomfort from GI-related conditions like IBS, acid reflux, and bloating.

The treatments also increase the production of serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters crucial for mood regulation. By supporting these processes, acupuncture helps reduce anxiety and symptoms of depression.

Improved gut motility and balance in your microbiome helps reduce inflammation and promotes digestion. Research shows that acupuncture produces these effects, improving both the physical and emotional aspects of gut health.

Holistic help for GI pain

Acupuncture is particularly effective in easing the anxiety and depression associated with GI distress when you combine it with lifestyle changes that include dietary adjustments, stress management, and regular exercise.

If you’re dealing with chronic GI pain and the mental health challenges that come with it, acupuncture can help break the cycle. By addressing both the physical discomfort and emotional strain, acupuncture offers a holistic approach to restoring balance in your body and mind.

Call Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture at 651-964-3868, or book an appointment online today. Together, we can work toward relieving your mental and physical pain.