Can Anxiety Cause Burping?

Anxiety causes numerous symptoms, both mental and physical. However, not all these symptoms are well known, and some may not even realize their connection to anxiety. They may be so odd you do not think they are from anxiety. This can include how anxiety can cause burping! You may not even recognize these common but not widely known signs mean anything at all.

Since almost one in five Americans experience anxiety symptoms each year, it is essential to know how it affects your body and your mind. Physical symptoms can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, creating a vicious cycle.

There are more than 100 signs that you may have anxiety. Some of these symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms. Elevated levels of stress may cause the brain to have communication issues with your gut. As a result, anxiety may cause things like burping.

The Brain and the Gut

There are millions of independently functioning neurons. They are regularly communicating with the brain. Because of this connection, anxiety may trigger reactions in the gastrointestinal system.

Anxiety can affect three parts of the gut. The stomach, esophagus, and the bowel all have the potential for problems. These issues may develop into even more significant problems if left untreated.

• Stomach

• Pain, nausea, bloating, and general discomfort feel more intense when stressed. A decrease in appetite is possible, as well. Having a diet that is unhealthy when you suffer from anxiety may impact moods.
• Esophagus
  • Stress can cause you to eat less or more than you usually do. The change in diet causes acid reflux or heartburn. An increase in the amount of swallowed air leads to gas, bloating, and even burping.
• Bowel
  • Anxiety can affect the body's rate of food movement; this change may either cause constipation or diarrhea. Muscle spasms can occur as well.
  • High-stress levels may affect digestion, including the nutrients absorbed by the intestines.
  • If you already have a chronic bowel condition, anxiety has the potential to exacerbate it.

The effects of anxiety may travel all over the body, and it can be frustrating. Addressing the source of the anxiety you feel is the key to feeling better. If left to its own devices, stress can take a severe toll on your overall health.

Strange Symptoms of Anxiety

When you have anxiety, your brain and body can become at odds with each other. This conflict can cause weird symptoms to occur. Some of these unexpected symptoms are as follows:

Unusual Anxiety Symptoms

• Tinnitus
• Phantom buzzing, ringing, whizzing, roaring, swooshing, or chirping in the ears
• Indigestion
  • Heartburn, passing gas, diarrhea, and burping
• Heart issues
  • Racing heart, palpitations, or the heart skipping beats
• Yawning
  • Hyperventilation can lead to the brain not getting enough oxygen which can cause frequent yawning
• Sensation of burning
  • The lips, skin, tongue, skin, and tongue may feel sunburnt, shooting sparks, or have prickling sensations
• Tingling or numbness
  • The legs, feet, arms, hands, and face may tingle or feel weak
• Tremors
  • Trembling, shaking, spasms or cramping of the arms or legs
• Brain shivers
  • Brief shaking, vibration, tremor, or electrical jolt in the brain
• Phantom vibrations
  • Feeling phone vibrations without them happening
• Phantom smell
  • Smelling things that are not there
• Skin rashes
  • Itching, rashes, and hives; aggravation of psoriasis or rosacea
• Derealization
  • Feeling disconnected from reality, the world, and people around
• Eye problems
  • Dilated pupils, floating shapes, watery eyes, and blurred vision
• Globus
  • Difficulty swallowing or feeling a lump or tightness in the throat
• Cold feet and hands
  • Poor circulation leads to cold extremities
• Shooting pains
  • Can happen to abdomen, chest, arms, or face

These symptoms may not always be related to anxiety. However, the presence of a few of them may be a cause for concern. Talk to your doctor about any strange symptoms you have, regardless of the cause.

Treatment for Anxiety

Doctors have found many treatments for anxiety, but they do not all work for everyone. It may take a bit of trial and error to see what is best for you. Whether it is therapy or medication, your doctor will have an idea of where to start.

If your anxiety is because of an underlying condition, your doctor may want to treat that. You may only have temporary treatment for your anxiety while taking care of the other state. Either way, relief from anxiety is possible.

Anxiety Treatments

• Medication
• SNRIs and SSRIs
• Usually used for depression, these drugs are effective for anxiety as well.
• Beta-blockers
  • More of a temporary solution, beta-blockers help in stressful situations.
• Benzodiazepines
  • These fast-acting medications assist with relaxation but have habit-forming potential.
• Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • By focusing on recognizing and understanding how you think and behave, this type of treatment provides coping mechanisms for anxiety
  • Exposure Therapy
    • Gradual exposure to the cause of your anxiety in a controlled and safe environment may alleviate the fear of certain situations or objects.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy
    • With a priority of mindfulness, DBT encourages accepting change and understanding painful thoughts as they happen.
  • Hypnosis
    • Guidance with relaxing muscles, steadying breathing, and imagery can alleviate severe anxiety symptoms.
  • Group therapy
    • It may help to have a conversation with a therapist and a small group of others experiencing similar hardships.

Therapy and medication are the most common, but there are other ways to find relief. As mentioned before, your doctor will work with you to figure out what suits your situation. Finding relief may take some time, but it is worth it in the end.

Conclusion

Because anxiety causes communication issues between the brain and the rest of the body, it is common to have physical symptoms. These physical symptoms can manifest in many ways. One of these ways is messing with your gastrointestinal system.

When your gut is out of whack, your stomach, esophagus, and bowel may become more sensitive. This imbalance causes burping, gas, bloating, pain, and more. Fortunately, anxiety is very treatable, even in severe cases.

References:

1. https://www.uclahealth.org/esophageal-center/belching-disorders
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/symptoms/
3. https://www.cheatsheet.com/health-fitness/terrifying-symptom-of-anxiety-no-one-talks-about.html/
4. https://www.livestrong.com/article/146693-burping-anxiety/
5. https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/excessive-belching
6. https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/belching-a-lot-it-s-time-you-keep-your-stress-levels-under-check#:~:text=Burping%20and%20anxiety%20are%20interlinked,be%20felt%20more%20after%20eating.