Why do we feel nauseous when we are nervous? & bull; hello healthy

When you are faced with a stressful or thrilling situation, it is not just the mind that becomes agitated. Somehow, your body suddenly feels bad too. What a bad time for your body to rebel. However, did you know that feeling nervous, anxious, or tense has an immediate impact on the body? Everyone usually will show a different reaction when nervous attacks. Some will feel nauseous as if they want to vomit when nervous. What does nervousness have to do with your stomach and what is the best way to deal with nervous nausea? Find out the full answer below.

What situations can make you nauseous?

Nervousness can be caused by a variety of situations and conditions. So, you can be nervous at any time, not only when you will appear in front of a crowd. Sometimes even without you knowing it, nervousness and anxiety can appear and cause you to feel nauseous suddenly. Here are the various situations in which nervousness can strike.

Being in an unfamiliar public place

Many people will feel very nervous when they are in a new social environment. For example, if you have to go to an event when you don't know the people who will be attending, work in a new office, or change schools. In a strange environment, it is normal to feel awkward and embarrassed.

Stage fright

This condition occurs in people who will appear in public or do something that has a very large impact. For example, a presentation in front of a client that is quite important, dancers who will appear in front of the audience, athletes who will compete, or students who will advance for their thesis trial.

Facing change

Sometimes the changes that are about to happen can make you suddenly nauseous. For example, when starting a new job, moving to a city that you have never visited before, or your child is about to migrate out of town. Maybe this is really bothering you even though you try to relax and forget about it.

Waiting for the moment you've been waiting for

Being impatient for certain moments can make your stomach turn. Generally, people feel queasy because they are nervous to death when their wife is giving birth, is planning a wedding, or looking forward to a vacation to the country of your dreams.

The relationship between nervousness and stomach nausea

When you feel nervous, the body will produce catecholamine and adrenaline hormones in the blood. This hormone serves to prepare the body to work harder because of a threat that makes you nervous. As a result, several body functions that are considered to have less role in protecting themselves will be rested, one of which is the digestive system. Hormones that are produced when nervous will release fat and glucose deposits suddenly so that the acid and enzyme levels in the stomach can be messed up. This is what causes you to feel nauseous.

Meanwhile, as the body stiffens up and prepares for a threat, some muscles will contract. Your abdominal muscles will also contract and tighten. This is at risk of pressing on your stomach so that you feel nauseous as if you want to vomit something. These physical reactions are spontaneous. You cannot control or stop your body from coping with threats, even if the threats you are dealing with are psychological, not physical.

Tips for dealing with nausea due to nervousness

The nausea that comes when you are nervous is not going to help you feel calmer. In many cases, people become more anxious because the nausea is uncomfortable and bothersome. To deal with nausea due to nervousness, consider the following surefire ways.

1. Avoid heavy meals

If you are faced with a situation that makes you nervous, it's best to avoid foods that are fatty, unhealthy, and too heavy. Eating enough healthy foods will help you control your digestive system so you don't struggle and feel nauseous. However, make sure that the stomach is not empty, as there is a risk of causing nausea and ulcers.

2. Take a deep breath

To reduce the stress and pressure that makes you nauseous due to nervousness, proper breathing techniques can help you. Start by standing or sitting up straight and closing your eyes. Breathe as slowly as possible, about 5 seconds to inhale through the nose. Hold for about 4 seconds. Exhale slowly through the mouth for 7 seconds. Repeat until the nausea subsides.

3. Exercise lightly

Calm your mind by exercising. If you're waiting for your turn to appear in public, take a walk or do some stretching. However, if you have free time, you can do more vigorous exercise such as running, swimming or cycling. By doing this, the tense muscles, especially the abdominal muscles, will become weaker. Exercise also produces endorphins, which can help ward off nervousness.

4. Divert attention

When you are troubled by anxiety and nervousness, it can be difficult to control your thoughts. For that, talk to friends or family to divert your mind. You can play too games, read a book, or explore cyberspace.

5. Imagine positive things

One of the reasons you feel nauseous with nervousness is your fear of failure, disappointment, and shame. So, change your mindset even for a moment and imagine all the things that are contrary to what you were afraid of. For example, suppose you get nervous on the first date. Try to imagine the date will go smoothly, your date will turn out to be very friendly to you, and you have succeeded in impressing him. These thoughts of you will make you calmer and more optimistic.