THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU HATE YOUR JOB
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU HATE YOUR JOB
Check out this incredibly interesting article in the Huffington Post about the mental and physical symptoms that arise from being in a toxic job:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hate-your-job-body-symptoms_n_5c40a314e4b0a8dbe16e8373
Why on earth does a gastroenterologist care about job stress? Well, read specifically about the impact unhappiness, anxiety, and stress can have on your poor gut:
YOUR STOMACH IS ACTING UP
Indigestion, constipation, bloating can all be associated with stress, because stress impacts what the gut digests and can also change our gut bacteria, which in turn impacts our mood.
It’s why you may get stomach pangs when you are upset, said Kelloway, who experienced this himself in one toxic job.
“About six months in I started to notice that every Sunday afternoon I developed a pain in my stomach. It was not the symptom but the timing (just as I was starting to think about what I had to do on Monday morning) that alerted me to the connection to the job,” he said. “All symptoms went away when I quit the job and moved on to something else.”
YOUR APPETITE CHANGES
Your appetite is closely linked to your brain. Under acute stress, your fight-or-flight response releases adrenaline, telling your body to suppress digestion to focus on saving us from a perceived danger, according to the Harvard Health Letter. Under long-term stress, though, your body’s adrenal glands release and build up cortisol, a hormone which can increase hunger. When your job is causing long-term emotional distress, you may turn to food for comfort.
Harvard also reports that eating sugary foods may blunt stress-related responses and emotions, which is why they’re often seen as comfort foods ― but that’s an unhealthy habit you should avoid.”
As you’ve learned stress can impact gut symptoms and contribute to issues with weight management. Although we can’t make your job stress and responsibilities disappear, the team at Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health can help! Our providers are well versed in all of the latest treatment options for weight management as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other functional GI conditions impacted by stress. Treatment options include nutritional interventions, optimizing the mind-connection with gut directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, and utilizing the huge variety of potentially beneficial supplements and medications. One size does not fit all – you need to have an individualized treatment plan.
We are eager to help IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE and have you THINK LESS ABOUT YOUR GUT. Call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com to schedule a consultation.