The Stomachaches I Kept Ignoring

It started with what I called “just a bit of stomach pain” after big meals. Sometimes it felt like cramping, sometimes like bloating. Occasionally sharp, but mostly annoying. I brushed it off for months — maybe even years — thinking it was just poor food choices or random indigestion.

But then it became more frequent. Sometimes I’d feel off before eating. Other times, a simple snack would send my gut into chaos. I cut out dairy. Then coffee. Then gluten. I even tried eating super slowly, chewing 30 times per bite (yes, I counted). Nothing really stuck — at least not for long.

Eventually, I started digging deeper into what could actually be going on, and it turns out I’m far from alone.

A post I came across on LinkedIn made me rethink everything:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/askdocdoc_many-stomachaches-arent-caused-by-infectionbut-activity-7347980445944320000-Jt--/
It pointed out that many stomach issues aren’t caused by infections or spoiled food. Stress, poor habits, even your mindset while eating can all mess with your gut.

That really hit me.

I began paying more attention to the way I felt emotionally before meals. Sure enough, whenever I ate in a rush or while anxious, things got worse. A quick scroll through Instagram reinforced this idea:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLzu1vrujvv/
The post talked about the connection between stress and digestion — something I’d never truly considered until then.

Then I found a Threads post that summed up my exact issue:
https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DLzu180KLTn
It mentioned how rushing through meals can trigger stomach pain — and honestly, I’m the kind of person who finishes lunch in five minutes flat. Guilty as charged.

Looking for natural remedies, I discovered this Pinterest gem:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279435708260
It recommended ginger tea, peppermint, and warm compresses. I’d tried some of these before, but never consistently. This time, I made a nightly ritual of tea and slow breathing. It helped more than I expected.

I also came across a Facebook post that suggested tracking symptoms and meals:
https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122132015966743210
So I started a little journal. Within a week, I saw a pattern. My worst days were always after little sleep, lots of stress, and on-the-go eating. Simple awareness changed everything.

Of course, there were still days when things didn’t improve. That’s when I found this tweet:
https://twitter.com/AskDoctors24/status/1942214667490754747
It reminded me that pain that keeps coming back should be checked out. Not everything can be solved with tea and journaling.

Eventually, I landed on a really helpful article that laid out the bigger picture — types of stomach pain, possible causes, when to treat at home, and when to get help. It’s from AskDocDoc, and honestly, it tied everything together for me.
https://askdocdoc.com/articles/686-stomachache-treatment-causes-remedies-and-fast-relief-options

These days, I’m more in tune with what my gut is trying to tell me. I don’t just pop antacids and move on. I pause, reflect, adjust.