Beyond the Belly - Decode your Stomach Pain
Explore the mind-body connection behind chronic abdominal pain in this “Undiagnosed” video podcast. Learn about the science of stress and gut health, the risks of over-medicalizing symptoms, and how lifestyle changes, diet, physical activity, and professional therapy can empower real recovery. Perfect for adults seeking evidence-based, practical answers—hosted by an experienced psychosomatic health expert and author of “Undiagnosed.” Discover how taking a holistic approach leads to lasting wellness.
🌿 Understanding Functional Abdominal Pain & the Gut-Brain Connection 🌿
Persistent abdominal pain without a clear medical cause affects one in three people, often leading to repeated tests and mounting frustration. This type of pain is real — even when scans and blood work come back normal — and is deeply linked to the gut-brain axis, a constant two-way communication between the mind and digestive system.
Stress, anxiety, and past trauma can trigger physical changes in the gut through hormones like cortisol, creating spasms, discomfort, and heightened nerve sensitivity. This can trap sufferers in a vicious cycle: more pain → more tests → more anxiety → worsened symptoms.
The solution lies in the biopsychosocial model, which views health as a balance between biology, psychology, and social context. Validation from a healthcare provider is often the first healing step, breaking the cycle of self-doubt.
Evidence-based strategies include:
🧠 Mind-focused: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, hypnotherapy
🩺 Body-focused: Healthy diet, regular activity, mindfulness, gradual return to normal routines
Importantly, certain red-flag symptoms (e.g., unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting) require immediate medical attention .
✨ Final Thought: Your symptoms are not random — they are messages from your body, clues to your life story. True health comes from looking beyond scans, listening to your body, and addressing the whole person .
