how to treat a stress-induced stomach ache

[rei]

i know the best thing is to speak to a medical professional but i'm still curious about the best ways you have found to treat a stomach ache that is obviously caused by stress. i tried a simple antacid (Maalox type of thing) and it didn't seem to help much. ideas?

[Gene]

Originally Posted by rei

i know the best thing is to speak to a medical professional but i'm still curious about the best ways you have found to treat a stomach ache that is obviously caused by stress. i tried a simple antacid (Maalox type of thing) and it didn't seem to help much. ideas?

The first thing that comes to my mind is find a way to reduce your stress. You may scoff but it is possible to reduce your stress and still function in whatever life situation you are experiencing.

[rei]

i don't scoff at all. i know you've been in some potentially stressful situations so if i'd believe anyone about the possibility, i'd believe you.

consciously working with the stress improves the intensity of the discomfort, not completely but significantly.

[ginkgo]

There are things that you can do to get rid of stress. There is no reason to say that stress destroys your health. Since if you are miserable then a shorter life is better. The more stress you have the more miserable and unhappy you are.

The goal of a human being is to reach a state of no stress. Being at this state a person feels endless love, perfect peace and limitless happiness. See this webpage for more on this state that top psychologists have studied and have even labeled it.

[Writertype]

If you're eating a poor diet it could be GERD (acid reflux), in which case changing your diet would help. Over the counter antacids might help, but you might need something stronger like a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to really do it.

It's also possible you could have an ulcer. If that's the case you may have an H. pylori infection that could be cleared with a simple course of antibiotics + PPI, or there could be other options.

If you're not going to the doctor, I just suggest getting adequate sleep every night, saying "no" to some commitment to tone down the stress, taking more time to relax and do things you enjoy, and eating the healthiest diet you can. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs like aspirin. See if any of that clears it up.

[GrGrimm]

I had a stress-induced stomach ache from a job where I listened to complaints all day. The best fix of course was quiting the job. Before that was an option though, regularly exercising seemed to prevent it from happening. Sometimes yogi-brand ginger tea seemed to help, even though i wasn't nauseous. Coffee and sometimes green tea made it worse. Deep breathing meditation sort of helped as did a long walk outside.

[Lamusa]

Originally Posted by rei

i know the best thing is to speak to a medical professional but i'm still curious about the best ways you have found to treat a stomach ache that is obviously caused by stress. i tried a simple antacid (Maalox type of thing) and it didn't seem to help much. ideas?

In addition to focusing your mind on pleasant events,

Sip 3 cups of ginger tea make sure it is hot but not enough to burn your lips, You can also drink strong peppermint tea.

[ssandra]

What helped for me before quiting my job was to remember breathing techniques. This helped me to calm down and feel more relaxed. Besides that, ofcourse stay away from the coffee and coke and diet coke!

[rei]

thanks to all for the suggestions. i have processed the emotions for the specific situation that led to my post. setting better boundaries, asserting my right to be treated with respect, these helped as well.

i am sure others will be interested in the methods for handling this issue, and i am pleased to say it is now a non-issue for me!

[Ariana1]

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[bluedragon]

One of the most effective methods for getting rid of tensions in the abdominal area is the Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage. It is a very powerful massage technique that works by releasing the negative energy that becomes stuck in the form of tension, and thus helps with many health problems, especially those related to the internal organs, but even back and neck pain !

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[funchy]

Don't do the antacid thing long term. Several problems with it. For one, it lowers the pH of your stomach, removing one good defense against ingested pathogens (food poisioning). It is only a band-aid, never fixing the problem. And some of them are magnesium or calcium based, and you use enough of it and it starts to mess with electrolyte balance a bit.

Depends why your stomach is hurting. It could be an ulcer which is aggravated by your stress; many ulcers they're finding are caused by bacteria such as H Pylori. You'd need to control the bacteria and give the stomach to heal. You need to see a good Dr to get a proper diagnosis.

Sometimes people under stress tend to eat poorly, overeat, not chew their food, and not relax to allow for digestion. Could any of these apply to your situation?

Why not also take action against the stress. Make big life changes, even if it means giving up some ambitious plans. Talk to a doctor about anxiety medication. Talk to a therapist about developing new coping skills. Talk to a family member or loved one to get more emotional support & less stress at home.