Last update: April 08, 2020
Gastrointestinal disorders can cause very annoying symptoms. Assuming that the causes of a simple stomach ache can be many, it is good to know that some of them seem to come from within, that is, from unresolved emotional issues. This is the case with nervous gastritis.
It is a disorder caused by inflammation of the gastric mucosa and which unfortunately causes several unpleasant symptoms. The main difference between nervous gastritis and other gastric disorders lies in the fact that it is not triggered by the presence of bacteria, but by stress and anxiety. In this article we will see what are the main symptoms, causes and possible remedies to combat it.
What are the symptoms of nervous gastritis?
As with most disorders of the gastric mucosa, gastritis nervosa has a series of closely related symptoms. However, it should be considered that these symptoms can occur sporadically (in the case of acute gastritis) or continuously (in the case of chronic gastritis). Below is a list of the most common symptoms.
Stomach ache
The most obvious symptom of this pathology is stomach pain, which becomes particularly intense in periods of high stress. According to the description of people suffering from this disorder, it is pain similar to that caused by a peptic ulcer. After all, in both cases the problem originates from an inflammation of the gastric mucosa.
Early satiety
Affected persons suffering from nervous gastritis often complain of a strong loss of appetite during periods when symptoms are more acute. Therefore, it is easy for patients to eat less food, compromising their health even more.
Feeling of heaviness
Sometimes described as the feeling of slow digestion, this symptom is actually simply the consequence of poor digestion.
Acidity
As with many other disorders of the gastric mucosa, one of the most annoying symptoms of nervous gastritis is acidity. It is about a burning sensation in the digestive system which can become unbearable in times of increased stress.
Nausea and belching
Since food is not digested properly, many patients complain of problems such as frequent nausea and constant belching.
Causes of nervous gastritis
Unlike most other disorders of the gastric mucosa, which are caused by bacterial infections, gastritis nervosa is caused solely by psychological problems. Problems such as anxiety, stress and frustration, if not treated properly, can cause chronic ailments and side effects such as this form of gastritis.
When psychological problems are addressed and resolved, the symptoms of nervous gastritis occur sporadically. In reverse, if a person is very anxious, it is possible that the gastritis nervosa becomes chronic; in this case it is clearly necessary to work to solve the psychological problem underlying this physical disorder.
Treatment
In general, the treatment of nervous gastritis must include 3 phases: medical help, emotional management and changes in nutrition.
Let's see each of these phases in detail.
Medical help
As with most other inflammatory disorders of the gastric mucosa, symptoms can be alleviated thanks to gastroprotectors such as Omeprazole and Maalox, which protect the stomach walls from excess acid, relieving discomfort.
However, just as in the case of psychological disorders, drugs cannot be the only treatment - quite the contrary they must only serve as a complement to other treatments. Medicines can be helpful in masking symptoms, but not in eliminating the root problem.
Management of emotions
Since one of the main causes of this disturbance is stress, the only way to get rid of it forever is to learn how to manage negative emotions. To do this, it is necessary to approach the problem from different angles, starting from the use of relaxation techniques to resorting to psychotherapy.
Changes in diet
Some natural remedies have been shown to help fight nervous gastritis. In combination with the other methods, an adequate diet can help calm the most troublesome symptoms of this gastric mucosal disorder.
