Nervous stomach: Symptoms, causes, and remedies Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe
What causes a nervous stomach and how to treat itMedically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on April 10, 2022A nervous stomach is one example of how a person’s emotions can affect their body. Doctors may use the term “nervous stomach” to refer to symptoms, such as nausea or bloating, that are unrelated to any gastrointestinal (GI) conditions.
thumb_upLike (32)
commentReply (1)
shareShare
visibility797 views
thumb_up32 likes
comment
1 replies
J
Joseph Kim 2 minutes ago
Share on PinterestAnnie Otzen/Getty ImagesThe treatments for a nervous stomach often include techniq...
H
Harper Kim Member
access_time
10 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Share on PinterestAnnie Otzen/Getty ImagesThe treatments for a nervous stomach often include techniques to reduce anxiety, stress, and tension. In this article, learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of a nervous stomach, as well as how to prevent it from happening again. Symptoms
A nervous stomach can mirror the symptoms of some GI disorders.
thumb_upLike (43)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up43 likes
comment
3 replies
L
Lily Watson 7 minutes ago
These include conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colit...
K
Kevin Wang 2 minutes ago
They may refuse to go to school or frequently report stomach pain without presenting any other signs...
These include conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and gastroenteritis, which is a bacterial or viral stomach infection. The symptoms of a nervous stomach can include:crampschanges in appetitediarrheaindigestionnauseaconstipation
Children can often experience symptoms of a nervous stomach. They may describe their symptoms differently than adults.
thumb_upLike (38)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up38 likes
S
Sophia Chen Member
access_time
20 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
They may refuse to go to school or frequently report stomach pain without presenting any other signs of an infection. Causes
The GI tract has its own nervous system called the enteric nervous system.
thumb_upLike (46)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up46 likes
J
Julia Zhang Member
access_time
25 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Nerve endings in the stomach respond to stress hormones that the brain releases. This is part of the “fight-or-flight” response, which causes stress hormones to signal the stomach to slow down so that more blood can pump to the lungs and muscles.
thumb_upLike (14)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up14 likes
comment
2 replies
H
Hannah Kim 22 minutes ago
People can experience high levels of stress on a regular basis, which can mimic those of a fight-or-...
O
Oliver Taylor 1 minutes ago
However, a person can have a nervous stomach without having IBS. A diagnosis of IBS requires symptom...
E
Elijah Patel Member
access_time
12 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
People can experience high levels of stress on a regular basis, which can mimic those of a fight-or-flight response. Some stress-related triggers of a nervous stomach include:an upcoming event, such as a test or presentationfinancial problemsrelationship or family problemsdivorcechanges at workmoving homethe death of a loved onechronic illness
A nervous stomach can give someone “butterflies” in their stomach or even make them feel as though they need to vomit. Sometimes, people refer to IBS as a nervous stomach.
thumb_upLike (35)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up35 likes
J
Joseph Kim Member
access_time
35 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
However, a person can have a nervous stomach without having IBS. A diagnosis of IBS requires symptoms to occur consistently for at least 3 months. IBS symptoms also often improve with dietary and lifestyle changes.
thumb_upLike (31)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up31 likes
comment
2 replies
Z
Zoe Mueller 5 minutes ago
Treatment
Although it may be possible to treat the symptoms of a nervous stomach at home, some peopl...
V
Victoria Lopez 18 minutes ago
Examples of treatments for a nervous stomach include:Therapy: Seeing a psychiatrist or therapist may...
E
Ethan Thomas Member
access_time
16 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Treatment
Although it may be possible to treat the symptoms of a nervous stomach at home, some people may prefer to speak with a healthcare professional. Some of the potential triggers that a person might need to address to reduce their symptoms include pressures relating to school, work, family, or relationships.
thumb_upLike (29)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up29 likes
comment
2 replies
H
Hannah Kim 12 minutes ago
Examples of treatments for a nervous stomach include:Therapy: Seeing a psychiatrist or therapist may...
T
Thomas Anderson 15 minutes ago
Treating anxiety and depression may also help reduce the incidence of nervous stomach.Meditation: Me...
H
Henry Schmidt Member
access_time
27 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Examples of treatments for a nervous stomach include:Therapy: Seeing a psychiatrist or therapist may help a person make changes to reduce the stress in their life. No one can eliminate stress, but a therapist can help a person identify ways to cope better when they do experience it.Medications: In some instances, a person may need to take medication to reduce their anxiety and stress levels.
thumb_upLike (36)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up36 likes
comment
3 replies
N
Nathan Chen 23 minutes ago
Treating anxiety and depression may also help reduce the incidence of nervous stomach.Meditation: Me...
M
Madison Singh 18 minutes ago
Some people may choose to repeat a mantra to help them focus their energy and relieve stress. Taking...
Treating anxiety and depression may also help reduce the incidence of nervous stomach.Meditation: Meditation can reduce anxiety and stress by enhancing a person’s focus and mindfulness. Meditating involves sitting or lying down in a quiet room and focusing on the breath.
thumb_upLike (7)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up7 likes
comment
2 replies
N
Noah Davis 1 minutes ago
Some people may choose to repeat a mantra to help them focus their energy and relieve stress. Taking...
S
Sofia Garcia 25 minutes ago
These may vary among individuals, but common culprits include dairy products and caffeinated beverag...
G
Grace Liu Member
access_time
22 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Some people may choose to repeat a mantra to help them focus their energy and relieve stress. Taking even 10–15 minutes a day for meditation might help some individuals reduce their nervous stomach symptoms.Foods: It is often a good idea to limit foods that can worsen a nervous stomach.
thumb_upLike (6)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up6 likes
A
Ava White Moderator
access_time
60 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
These may vary among individuals, but common culprits include dairy products and caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, chocolate, soda, and tea.Stress-relieving activities: Engaging in activities that help reduce stress, such as exercising, journaling, reading, listening to music, or talking with friends, can help. Sometimes, a person may find that they can also relieve stress by reducing the number of commitments in their daily schedule.Natural remedies: Ginger, which people can sip as a tea, chew on as a root, or take as a supplement, may help alleviate mild gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea.
thumb_upLike (31)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up31 likes
comment
2 replies
S
Scarlett Brown 40 minutes ago
Drinking peppermint tea or smelling peppermint oil may also reduce nervous stomach symptoms. A docto...
D
Daniel Kumar 6 minutes ago
If a person experiences these symptoms on a regular basis, a doctor may diagnose them with IBS. Trea...
S
Sophia Chen Member
access_time
52 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Drinking peppermint tea or smelling peppermint oil may also reduce nervous stomach symptoms. A doctor can also recommend specific treatments once they know the details of a person’s health history. Outlook
A nervous stomach can cause symptoms that are similar to those of chronic GI disorders.
thumb_upLike (9)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up9 likes
comment
1 replies
D
Daniel Kumar 43 minutes ago
If a person experiences these symptoms on a regular basis, a doctor may diagnose them with IBS. Trea...
M
Mason Rodriguez Member
access_time
70 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
If a person experiences these symptoms on a regular basis, a doctor may diagnose them with IBS. Treating any underlying stressors may help reduce the incidence of a nervous stomach, alleviate the symptoms, and improve a person’s quality of life. Last medically reviewed on April 10, 2022Mental HealthAnxiety / StressGastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology 12 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.
thumb_upLike (38)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up38 likes
comment
2 replies
R
Ryan Garcia 36 minutes ago
We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific refere...
D
Daniel Kumar 64 minutes ago
You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial ...
E
Ethan Thomas Member
access_time
45 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.
thumb_upLike (23)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up23 likes
comment
1 replies
J
Julia Zhang 29 minutes ago
You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial ...
V
Victoria Lopez Member
access_time
48 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Bodagh, M. N., et al. (2018).
thumb_upLike (27)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up27 likes
comment
1 replies
G
Grace Liu 34 minutes ago
Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.https://www.ncbi.nlm.ni...
M
Mia Anderson Member
access_time
17 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6341159/Cherry, R. (n.d.).
thumb_upLike (4)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up4 likes
comment
3 replies
A
Andrew Wilson 15 minutes ago
Understanding the link between stress and stomach aches in children.https://www.rchsd.org/health-saf...
N
Natalie Lopez 16 minutes ago
Review article: The physiologic effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable b...
Understanding the link between stress and stomach aches in children.https://www.rchsd.org/health-safety/growing-up-columns/understanding-the-link-between-stress-and-stomach-aches-in-children/Chumpitazi, B. P., et al. (2018).
thumb_upLike (37)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up37 likes
comment
3 replies
R
Ryan Garcia 35 minutes ago
Review article: The physiologic effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable b...
E
Ella Rodriguez 25 minutes ago
(2020).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/gingerHoltmann, G., et al. (2014)....
Review article: The physiologic effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders. /https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5814329Ginger.
thumb_upLike (22)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up22 likes
comment
2 replies
H
Harper Kim 7 minutes ago
(2020).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/gingerHoltmann, G., et al. (2014)....
S
Sophie Martin 12 minutes ago
The stomach-brain axis.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521691814001528How to cal...
H
Harper Kim Member
access_time
40 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
(2020).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/gingerHoltmann, G., et al. (2014).
thumb_upLike (46)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up46 likes
comment
1 replies
H
Henry Schmidt 25 minutes ago
The stomach-brain axis.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521691814001528How to cal...
D
David Cohen Member
access_time
63 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
The stomach-brain axis.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521691814001528How to calm an anxious stomach: The brain-gut connection (2018).https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/how-calm-anxious-stomach-brain-gut-connectionIrritable bowel syndrome. (2019).https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/irritable-bowel-syndromeLy, H.
thumb_upLike (27)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up27 likes
comment
1 replies
C
Christopher Lee 39 minutes ago
G., et al. (2015)....
H
Henry Schmidt Member
access_time
66 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
G., et al. (2015).
thumb_upLike (29)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up29 likes
comment
1 replies
A
Alexander Wang 2 minutes ago
Acute anxiety and anxiety disorders are associated with impaired gastric accommodation in patients w...
E
Elijah Patel Member
access_time
46 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Acute anxiety and anxiety disorders are associated with impaired gastric accommodation in patients with functional dyspepsia [Abstract].http://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(15)00379-1/abstractMiller, C. (n.d.).
thumb_upLike (34)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up34 likes
comment
3 replies
S
Scarlett Brown 33 minutes ago
Anxious stomach aches and headaches.https://childmind.org/article/anxious-stomach-aches-and-headache...
A
Ava White 2 minutes ago
(2020). Patient-specific stress–abdominal pain interaction in irritable bowel syndrome: An...
Anxious stomach aches and headaches.https://childmind.org/article/anxious-stomach-aches-and-headaches/Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress. (2019).https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness/meditationPeppermint oil. (2020).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermintoilVork, L., et al.
thumb_upLike (16)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up16 likes
J
James Smith Moderator
access_time
125 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
(2020). Patient-specific stress–abdominal pain interaction in irritable bowel syndrome: An exploratory experience sampling method study.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7386351/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on April 10, 2022
Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's?
thumb_upLike (0)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up0 likes
comment
3 replies
S
Sofia Garcia 102 minutes ago
New clues arise
Related CoverageWhat is acute stress disorder?Medically reviewed by Jeanne Morrison...
H
Harper Kim 114 minutes ago
Legg, PhD, PsyD
Stress can cause physical symptoms, such as diarrhea. Here, learn about the causes a...
New clues arise
Related CoverageWhat is acute stress disorder?Medically reviewed by Jeanne Morrison, Ph.D., MSN
Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a short-term condition that can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event. Its symptoms are similar to those…READ MOREStress diarrhea: Signs and managementMedically reviewed by Timothy J.
thumb_upLike (20)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up20 likes
J
James Smith Moderator
access_time
81 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
Legg, PhD, PsyD
Stress can cause physical symptoms, such as diarrhea. Here, learn about the causes and symptoms of stress-induced diarrhea and the treatment options…READ MORETwelve home remedies for stomach pain in 2022
Upset stomach, or indigestion, is usually no cause for concern. It is often possible to treat the symptoms using home remedies.
thumb_upLike (44)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up44 likes
comment
2 replies
C
Chloe Santos 75 minutes ago
In this article, we…READ MOREHow is stress linked with constipation?Medically reviewed by Dr. Ana ...
S
Sebastian Silva 54 minutes ago
García Redondo
Stress can cause constipation, both directly and indirectly. This article looks at t...
W
William Brown Member
access_time
84 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
In this article, we…READ MOREHow is stress linked with constipation?Medically reviewed by Dr. Ana M.
thumb_upLike (47)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up47 likes
comment
2 replies
A
Audrey Mueller 41 minutes ago
García Redondo
Stress can cause constipation, both directly and indirectly. This article looks at t...
D
Dylan Patel 47 minutes ago
In this article, we look at the best fruit juices for…READ MORE...
V
Victoria Lopez Member
access_time
58 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
García Redondo
Stress can cause constipation, both directly and indirectly. This article looks at the link between stress and constipation and discusses ways to…READ MOREWhat are the best juices for constipation?Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. Drinking juices can help relieve constipation due to their fiber, water, and nutrient content.
thumb_upLike (5)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up5 likes
comment
1 replies
C
Chloe Santos 7 minutes ago
In this article, we look at the best fruit juices for…READ MORE...
B
Brandon Kumar Member
access_time
120 minutes ago
Monday, 28 April 2025
In this article, we look at the best fruit juices for…READ MORE
thumb_upLike (20)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up20 likes
comment
2 replies
R
Ryan Garcia 75 minutes ago
Nervous stomach: Symptoms, causes, and remedies Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer'...
S
Sophia Chen 91 minutes ago
Share on PinterestAnnie Otzen/Getty ImagesThe treatments for a nervous stomach often include techniq...