Nervous System, Trauma and Gut Health: What’s The Connection?

Struggling with your gut health? Maybe you have even seen many doctors, naturopaths, run labs, taken supplement protocols, followed elimination diets but you haven’t seen the results you were looking for? What might you be missing?

One super important factor in healing your gut for good is the impact of the nervous system. I have talked to many women that are struggling with their health. Some don’t believe they are dealing with stress or nervous system imbalances and continue to seek out the right labs and supplement protocols to heal.  Some believe that if they are incorporating tools such as meditation into their life that they are fully addressing stress or the nervous system.  Now meditation can be a great tool but the truth is that it is just one small step. Some aren’t even aware there are reasons for digestive issues outside of the gut. So let’s discuss.

Nervous system, trauma and gut health: What’s the connection? Huge actually. Keep reading to learn more!

First let’s be clear that chronic gut and health issues of ANY KIND are impacted by BOTH physiological and psychological factors!  Even if you are largely showing more physical symptoms like bloating, constipation, food sensitivities, fatigue, and more.

What is Psychoneuroimmunology?

There is a field of study called psycho-neuro-immunology, yes science has proven this connection.

Essentially this is the study of how your brain, nervous system and immune system (which is mostly in the gut) interact and impact each other.

After all the gut is home to our enteric nervous system which is considered the second brain and the largest, most significant aspect of the autonomic nervous system which largely impacts how every system in our bodies function including digestion and hormone production.

The body (our physiology which will impact how we feel and how systems of our body work) will impact our mind and nervous system (our psychology) and vice versa.

With the nervous system as being the master overseer of our physiology.

Any internal or external factors that chronically stresses the body or mind can impact the other.

I have come to learn on my own health journey and after years of working with hundreds of clients that most often (not always 100%) our health issues start due to stressors of all kinds, some we know and some we may not.  Stress often stems from a lack of self care.

Lack of self care and self worth often stems from trauma and/or limiting beliefs that we continue to engage in.  These can also cause us to create health impacting patterns or behaviors such as being a work-a-holic, perfectionist, people pleaser, and more.

All of these pave the way for “bad” habits including constantly putting others’ needs above our own, seeking health sabotaging coping mechanisms such as turning to sugar or alcohol when stressed, and chronic nervous system dysregulation.

Consider the fact that the nervous system is the master controller of every body system including the GUT it is only a matter of time before we start to notice the physical symptoms.

The mind and body are not separate.  A truly functional approach to healing includes them both with the understanding that the body will often struggle to heal from anything regardless of the steps if the nervous system doesn’t feel safe and at peace more often than not. 

The core driver of chronic gut and health issues that has little to no response to strategic biochemical interventions (labs, supplements, diet changes) is often missing addressing autonomic nervous system dysfunction as part of the puzzle.  

Many things can impact the nervous system including poor sleep, gut infections, toxins, overdoing it, crappy diet, and the list goes on.  One important root cause factor to be aware of is the role trauma can play in keeping us stuck.

What is Trauma?

It can be psychological, physical, biochemical, environmental, relational, generational, spiritual, cultural, lifestyle, and global.

It can also be big, little, acute, past and ongoing.

Nobody is immune to trauma.

It’s often said to be part of life experience.  It took me a long time to realize I was dealing with the impact of unresolved trauma in my own life because I grew up in a loving home with two parents, a nice house, food on the table, clothes on my back and from the outside it seems like I had a great childhood.  Which I generally did and am grateful.

Early experiences mold behaviors, emotional patterns, unconscious beliefs, learning styles, relational dynamics, and the ability to handle stress and regulate ourselves.

Trauma isn’t so much what happens to us but what happens inside of us as a result of experiences or things we didn’t experience yet needed.

Unresolved trauma alters how the nervous system interprets environmental inputs (inside and out).

And this leads to our body struggling to deal with stress appropriately.

Stress maladaptation wears the body down at the cellular level and every system of the body is made up of cells.  Poor cellular function is like not having gas in your car.  Energy is being conserved to ensure survival (not thriving).

All leading to…

There is no one size fits all approach to healing trauma and it will take time, patience, growth, and commitment.

In order to better help my clients heal from chronic gut and health challenges I have made it a priority to become more trauma informed and I can tell you it has made a BIG difference in results.  IF they are willing to explore it and take action.

Learn more about my approach with clients: My Health and Healing Philosophy

I believe ANY HEALING JOURNEY ultimately needs to involve addressing BOTH the body and the mind in the proper way and in the proper order which will be highly individual.  

It also is a HUGE reason why I see many feel stuck on their own healing journeys because this concept hasn’t been adequately acknowledged, understood or addressed.