Are you thinking that anxiety causes vomiting because it’s the body’s way of unloading something useless for the imminent “flight or fight” situation?

Anxiety can be chronic or acute. People will vomit upon seeing a mashed raccoon on the road (acute stress) or periodically upchuck from the stress caused by battling an ex for custody of the kids.

So it’s no secret that some people will vomit during intense episodes of anxiety, but what’s the mechanism behind this?

Have you ever known anyone who vomited as a result of a lot of anxiety?

Of course, people have been known to upchuck even upon smelling something horrible such as rotten fish.

Anxiety, Stress and the Gut

Freepik.com, Diana.grytsku

“Anxiety causes the brain to send a signal to the stomach through the vagus nerve, causing changes in the physiology of the gut,” says Dr. Steven Lamm, MD, of internal medicine, who appears regularly as the house doctor on ABC’s “The View,” and author of “No Guts, No Glory,” a book about digestive issues..

Dr. Lamm continues, “In addition, anxiety causes changes in the center of the brain involved with nausea as well.

“It’s not uncommon for an anxious person to feel they need to vomit. But this is with extreme anxiety.”

An exercise regimen can help combat the physical effects of chronic anxiety.

Ideally, an exercise program should consist of both aerobic activity and weight bearing activity.

Yoga is another form of exercise that can help a person manage anxiety and its fallout including nausea and vomiting.

On the clinical faculty in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, Dr. Lamm has maintained a private practice in NYC for 30+ years.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.