Anxiety & SIBO
A few weeks ago I sent out an email talking about my Anxiety attack at the dentist.
Well since then it has dawned on me that in the weeks leading up to this and after, I had had many smaller Anxiety episodes and a constant feeling of overwhelm - thanks lockdown 1.0
It has also become apparent that the SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) that I cleared back in 2017 has returned.
Why am I talking about Anxiety and SIBO together, because they both relate to one another. It's called the Gut Brain Connection.
Did you know that our gut is also known as the 2nd brain?
The gut and brain are intimately connected, like a circular loop constantly communicating to each other. So our emotions, diet and the way we move our body all correlates to not only the physical health but our mental health too.
90% of our Seretonin is made in the gut - seretonin helps to regulate our mood, appetite and digestion, just to name a few.
When under stress for long periods of time your body elevates Cortisol (the stress hormone) which in turn lowers seretonin. Stress is also one of the biggest causing factors for SIBO.
There is no doubt that when the microbiome in my gut is not at its best that it affects my coping mechanisms. Low seretonin in the stomach also creates that feeling of lethargy, which I too know very well. Not just tired because you didn't sleep much the night before, but extreme fatigue. This lethargy led me earlier in the year to get some thyroid tests done, and guess what? Yep I have Hypothyroid (low functioning thyroid). This is also another big contributing factor to SIBO.
It's all interconnected!
So hopefully you can now see the connection between Anxiety and SIBO, but which one came first??? I don't know if I can answer that, but what I do know is that looking after our health involves many components, one no less important than another:
- Move your body
- Eat wholefoods that suit your body
- Engage in activities that lower your cortisol eg. meditation/yin yoga
- Do something that lights you up
- Drink water
- REST, yes you are allowed!
- Connection to like minded women
- Take 3 deep breaths
- Be in nature
Please use the above list as a daily check in for your overall health and wellness, specially those of you living in Melbourne at the moment.
PS. Feel like you are missing connection with others? I have created an online private hub in Facebook. A space for women to still feel supported and come together where ever you are at, on any given day. A place where we can express our highs and lows, plus much more from me. Interested?
Respond to this email to access the link x