There are many anxiety symptoms that are significantly worrisome. They cause physical pain and problems that may cause you to feel as though you think you have a health problem.
But one of the more unusual, and less worrisome symptoms of anxiety is excessive belching. Belching can be caused by a variety of gastrointestinal issues, but anxiety is also one of the more forgotten causes.
Are You Belching From Anxiety?
Anxiety - especially severe anxiety - can change the way you breathe and how you digest, both of which can lead to belching and burping. Our free 7 minute anxiety test will score your anxiety, and help you learn more about why your anxiety will lead to belching.
How Does Anxiety Cause Belching?
It may sound strange - maybe a little silly at first - but there is no denying that anxiety has an effect on your overall gas levels. The effect is also magnified by the type of anxiety you suffer from.
If you haven't yet, take my free 7 minute anxiety test now to learn more about your anxiety.
There are some other potential causes of anxiety burping, which we'll get to later, but easily the most common reason that anxiety leads to excess gas is because of hyperventilation.
How Hyperventilation Effects Gas
Those that suffer from anxiety are prone to what's known as hyperventilation, or "over-breathing." It can occur in a variety of different ways, including:
- Breathing too fast during an anxiety attack.
- Breathing too much oxygen because you feel you're not getting a deep breath.
- Poor, shallow breathing as a result of bad anxiety habits.
Interestingly, hyperventilation makes people feel as though they aren't getting enough air, when in truth they're actually getting too much. It tends to trigger a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, chest pains, and shortness of breath, that often trigger further anxiety and further hyperventilation.
Because your body is receiving more air than it needs, the healthy gas ratios are thrown off, and your body ends up needing to expel a great deal of that gas. That is what causes you to feel like belching repeatedly.
Other Causes of Gas
Although hyperventilation is one of the main causes of belching during anxiety, it's not the only one. Other issues may be caused by issues related to anxiety. For example, anxiety can throw off the efficacy of your gastrointestinal system, because of the severe stress that it puts on your stomach. If food isn't being digested properly, it may lead to a considerable amount of gas.
It's also not uncommon for belching to be an unusual stress relief tool, almost like a tic. Often this occurs in those with hyperventilation as well, but some people create this need to let out small burps as a way of coping with their stress.
How to Reduce Anxiety Belching
While most anxiety burping has no scent, and isn't necessarily harmful, it's still not something that most people want to deal with on a regular basis. Strategies to reduce belching include:
- Learn New Breathing Habits Your first step is going to be to learn new breathing habits. You can start by taking about 20 to 30 minutes every day taking slower breaths. Breathe in through your nose for several seconds, hold for a few seconds, and breathe out through pursed lips for several seconds. During an anxiety attack, this exercise is known as deep breathing and may have calming qualities.
- Eat Healthier Foods Healthy foods are not necessarily related to hyperventilation, but the healthier you eat the easier it will be for your body to digest foods in the event that poor digestion is aiding your belching and burping habits.
- Drink Water Interestingly, the simple act of drinking water can have its own calming properties, so people are advised to drink water in small gulps when they're suffering from anxiety. It seems as though this may also have an effect on your belching, although the reason for these benefits is unclear.
You should also consider exercising more as well. Exercise is known to improve the way you breathe, which in turn will reduce hyperventilation from poor breathing habits.
Then you'll need to start fighting your anxiety and panic attacks.
I've helped thousands of people conquer their anxiety, but the only way to start successfully is to take my 7 minute anxiety test. This test will help you:
- Figure out which of your symptoms are caused by anxiety.
- Compare your anxiety to other people suffering from anxiety.
- Learn the next steps in overcoming your anxiety problems.
Only by taking this test can you get accurate recommendations, and learn how your anxiety is affecting you.
Click here to take the test now.