By Have you been experiencing anxiety for a long time without knowing why? One of the causes could be bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. We explain the origin of this link.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a disease that is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Until a few years ago, however, many people went from one doctor to another without knowing the origin of their discomfort. However, advances in the understanding of this disease are revealing a new reality that you will be interested in discovering: its impact on mental health.
There are already numerous studies that tell us about the relationship between SIBO and anxiety. The famous gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication network that can directly affect your quality of life. The good news is that we have more information and multidisciplinary approaches to address this condition.
How does SIBO affect your mental health?
This disease is a type of dysbiosis in which an abnormal presence of bacteria appears in the small intestine. This is a problem because it is in this area where food is broken down and nutrients are extracted. The effects are often multiple, since not only the digestive process is altered. It is also possible to suffer from fatigue, headaches and alterations in mental well-being.
A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health confirms this relationship. It has been shown that patients affected by this syndrome show higher levels of stress and anxiety. This accumulation of toxins, which instead of being eliminated, accumulate in the body, in turn affects psychological well-being. Let’s delve deeper.
SIBO and anxiety
There is one aspect that we must clarify. Not all patients with SIBO suffer from anxiety, nor do all those who suffer from anxiety have bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. However, the American Journal of Gastroenterology highlights that this link exists in a significant percentage. Let’s understand these interaction mechanisms:
- Gut microbiota : Bacterial overgrowth disrupts the production of neurotransmitters that are crucial to mental health, such as GABA and serotonin. The former regulates brain excitability, and the latter improves mood and motivation. The alteration of these chemicals has an impact on the brain, which can increase your anxiety.
- A less protected small intestine: it is interesting to know that this part of the intestine is protected by stomach acids, antibacterial bile from the liver and even immunoglobulin from intestinal secretions. If these systems are altered, there will be a progressive increase in toxins filtering into other organs such as the brain. All of this could impact on mental health.
- Inflammation: Untreated SIBO can trigger an inflammatory response in your digestive system. As you well know, there is a direct link between the gut and the brain , which can translate into very debilitating physical health problems. This inflammatory process alters the production of various neurotransmitters, increasing the possible sensation of anxiety, nervousness, brain fog, etc.
Immune dysregulation and mental health
The relationship between SIBO and mental health is also triggered by an excess of inflammatory cytokines. The journal Brown , Behavior, & Immunity – Health delves deeper into this data, revealing that deregulated immune function has a significant link with depression. This fact is very crucial to better understand this symbiosis between the biological and the mental.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome traces that sometimes neglected two-way path between physiology and psychology. Your anxiety or depression does not always have an external or social origin. The endogenous, that is, what happens in your body and, specifically, in the digestive system is equally relevant.
Malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies
One key piece of information to understand the relationship between SIBO and anxiety has to do with poor absorption of essential nutrients. Keep in mind that the small intestine is where food is broken down and its nutrients are extracted. Excess bacteria hinders this process, and the result is often:
- Essential fatty acids: Did you know that omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in mental health? Their deficiency, as occurs in SIBO, can affect brain function. Don’t hesitate to consult with a specialist about a possible deficiency of this component.
- Magnesium, vitamin B12 and zinc deficiency: an adequate level of these elements favors good brain function and mood. In fact, external supplementation can improve well-being when suffering from anxiety or depression. This is what Frontiers in Psychiatry points out . However, an excess of bacteria in your body would alter the balance of these multipurpose nutrients.
Psychological impact of digestive pathologies
In our society, we often overlook the impact of certain ailments. SIBO is not just a simple stomach ache ; in fact, it takes a long time to be diagnosed. This translates into months or years of constant medical appointments and tests. At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that we are dealing with a very debilitating disease.
The quality of life of these patients is affected and this, in itself, is also a major source of anxiety. If the present condition already generates alterations that impact mental health, other factors are added that worsen it. The lack of understanding, the search for treatments and the stress of having a digestive pathology intensify the suffering.
What psychological strategies can help you?
According to the Journal of Clinical Medicine , the prevalence of SIBO in recent decades may range from 2.5 to 22%. The number of diagnoses is increasing every year as we have better information to detect it. At the same time, this presents a new challenge: treatment. The standard approach for this type of pathology is antibiotic cycles.
However, it is important to keep in mind that this treatment alone is not always 100% effective. In this type of dysbiosis, your best ally will be a multidisciplinary model, which also includes psychological therapy. Take note of the keys to the clinical approach and the approaches that can help you:
- Holistic: Treatment for SIBO should be comprehensive and address both the physical and emotional aspects of the disorder.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration: It is beneficial for psychologists, gastroenterologists and dietitians to work together to create a personalized treatment plan.
- Ongoing monitoring: It is essential to ensure proper monitoring and adjustment of treatments as the patient’s symptoms and needs change.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT ( Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) is a type of psychotherapy that teaches people to accept their thoughts and feelings without trying to change them. If you suffer from SIBO, this approach helps:
- Living in the present: This therapy offers you tools based on mindfulness . You will achieve a more focused approach in the present, to reduce the burden of anxiety or the anticipation of those catastrophic futures.
- It guides you to acceptance: the first step to managing an illness is to accept its presence in your life. Once you give it space without resistance, it is time to work on your well-being, to focus on treatments in a hopeful and resilient way.
- New values to help you cope with your illness: When you are diagnosed with any illness, whether chronic or not, whether it is more or less serious, it is crucial that you reformulate your values. Now, you must clarify new meanings in life, find what gives you meaning, motivation and purpose. This will reduce your anxiety and give you a greater sense of control.
- Managing negative thoughts: thanks to cognitive defusion , you will be able to stop the distressing and negative mental approaches associated with anxiety from dominating your life. In this case, it is not about confronting what you think, but about allowing your mind to produce the ideas it wants, but without the need to reinforce them or give them value.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
The emotion-focused therapeutic model (EFT) can be a powerful tool for you. It helps address the emotional impact that physical symptoms have on your daily life. It also helps improve quality of life and reduce anxiety associated with the condition itself. These are the axes that give it meaning and usefulness in this disease:
- Mind-body connection: TBI is a unique model for understanding how emotions affect your physical symptoms and vice versa. This way, you benefit from a more comprehensive approach to managing SIBO.
- Stress management: working with a psychologist will also allow you to integrate valuable techniques to regulate stress and thus reduce the burden of anxiety. Examples of this can be breathing and relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring, etc.
- Developing self-compassion: This therapy encourages a kinder, more empathetic relationship with yourself, helping you to be less critical in order to better manage the symptoms associated with SIBO. Self-compassion is a very cathartic form of self-care.
- Re-evaluating emotions: A useful tool is knowing how to re-evaluate your emotional experiences and use them as catalysts for change and problem solving. This is something you will gradually learn in the psychotherapeutic space.
- Emotional regulation techniques: TCE teaches you to calm your dysregulated nervous system. This will help you better manage your emotional responses to alleviate physical and mental symptoms. To this end, you will learn techniques such as deep breathing, grounding , and emotional acceptance.
Psychology is essential in addressing SIBO
The relationship between SIBO and anxiety is also linked to social stigma. Digestive problems can cause, in certain cases, isolation, low self-esteem and difficulties in personal relationships. In this scenario, psychology acts as a cornerstone in addressing this complex disease. If you are currently going through this reality, do not hesitate to seek holistic care.
Gastroenterologists, dieticians and psychologists will guide you to understand the underlying causes. Once these are clarified, you will be able to balance the microbiota and changes will come by themselves, including an improvement in your psychological health. Rely on people who understand you and understand that every illness is a process full of ups and downs, a path at the end of which you achieve well-being and quality of life.