Overcoming Abdominal Pain Associated with Anxiety Disorder
Abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of a person experiencing frequent anxiety attacks. The sufferer might think he or she has an ulcer but it more than likely is associated with the excess acid produced by a churning stomach. The underlying causes that result in abdominal pain can be very difficult to suppress for the sufferer but relief will definitely ease some of the stress on the patient. Let's look at a few ways to get anxiety disorder related abdominal pain under control.
Dyspepsia is the medical term given to anxiety-related abdominal pain. The term covers abdominal pain conditions where a definite cause cannot be found. For example, if there was an ulcer then this would be a definite cause. Of course without a definite cause, ridding the patient of abdominal pain associated with anxiety can be a long and difficult process. Dyspepsia related to anxiety is characterized by acid reflux. Acid reflux can be quite uncomfortable because stomach acids return to the throat through the patient's esophagus. The sensation is one of burning and pain. Patients also complain of having a sense of fullness after a meal and the person may even vomit because of the regurgitation.
It is possible to treat dyspepsia related to anxiety disorder without medications. Oftentimes by just losing weight, the problem of acid reflux goes away. Not wearing constrictive clothing around the waist is another way to help keep the pressure off of the abdominal area. Of course losing weight is easier said than done. Some anxiety sufferers like to eat "comfort" foods that are high in starch and sugar. These comfort foods inevitably cause weight gain. Other types of comfort foods are fatty and fried and these will definitely contribute to the acid reflux. All that added weight does nothing but make less room for the organs inside your body. The result is that more pressure is put on the stomach and abdominal area thus causing acids to come back up. Most people also know the specific foods that cause abdominal pain and acid reflux. For example, some people cannot eat pizza. Take the time to determine what those foods are and by avoiding them you can give yourself some relief from the abdominal pain related to anxiety.
There are medicines available to get quick relief from abdominal pain associated with anxiety. You will see name brands like Nexium, Prevacid, and Zantac. They can be bought over the counter or your doctor might want to give you the prescription strength dosage for extreme cases of abdominal pain. Usually, your doctor will want to first rule out an ulcer. This is done by running a test to detect the presence of bacteria known as H. Pylori which is known to be associated with stomach ulcers.
You may need to make changes in your lifestyle to rid yourself of abdominal pain associated with anxiety. Some changes the anxiety sufferer can make are to start a regular exercise program, reduce alcohol intake, quit smoking, and just go places that are relaxing. People suffering from anxiety sometimes drink heavily but the alcohol will only irritate the lining in your stomach. Smoking can be an irritant to the stomach as well. Make sure you consult your doctor before starting an exercise program if you are extremely out of shape.
