Written by: Libby Thoma | Freelancer It is well known that the brain, through emotion, can trigger an upset stomach. This spans from throwing up due to anxiety to being unable to eat during depression. It is less commonly known that this connection goes both ways. The gut-brain connection is the idea that the gut and the brain directly affect each other. The main component of this connection is the enteric nervous system — otherwise known as the ENS — that spans from your gastrointestinal tract to your rectum. The ENS’s main role is digestion, and although the ENS doesn’t think the way we picture thinking, there is a lot of communication between the ENS and the brain. An upset ENS, which may or may not be noticeable, may cause emotional and mood shifts, coupled with an increase in the risk for mental illness, mainly depression and anxiety. The ENS is known as a second brain, which can’t think in the way we presume a thought process is, but does play a role in controlling emotions and mental illness. Generally, these risks are caused by bowel problems including constipation, diarrhea, bloating, IBS and general stomach upset. The importance of studying this phenomenon is high, due to up to 40% of the population having these problems at some point in their life. The study of the gut brain connection is also important due to the fact that it can lead to treatment. This treatment includes soothing both the brain and the “second brain”. Antidepressants and cognitive therapy are generally thought to help, but gastroenterologists and medication for stomach issues also...
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