Brain-Gut Connection

As a psychologist spending over a decade of my career working alongside gastroenterologists, I am in awe with the complex interactions between our emotional and gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Science is continuing to learn more and more about how our emotions and stress levels impact our GI functioning at every level (nausea, early satiety, hunger or lack thereof, dietary cravings, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea can all be attributed to stress) AND how our GI functioning (especially related to our microbiome) can impact our emotional (anxiety, depression, etc.) functioning.

These two parts of our body are in constant communication to, ideally, work together. However, in the patients I have treated, I often explain their difficulties as a form of “miscommunication” or relationship difficulty between the brain and gut, one that psychology can help to improve. If the brain and gut are constantly communicating and this is where things have gone awry, then we can use the power of our minds and intellect to improve this communication and ultimate improve gut functioning.

I would love to share details of this during a visit, specifically how it is related to your (or your child’s) current challenges. In the meanwhile, if you’re interested in learning more about the brain-gut connection, please check out some of these resources: