Overcoming Food Anxiety and Digestive Issues: A Client’s Story
Many people come to me feeling trapped by their digestion. They may experience bloating after eating, ongoing stomach pain, or feel anxious about what they can safely eat. Over time, this can lead to very restrictive diets, food anxiety, and a sense of hopelessness.
The good news? With the right support, it’s possible to break free from fear of food and find joy in eating again. In this article, I want to share the story of one of my clients (details changed for confidentiality) who overcame exactly this challenge.
When Food Became the Enemy
This client, a 42-year-old woman, came to see me after a year of escalating digestive problems. It had all started suddenly — after eating a packaged muffin, she developed severe bloating and pain. From that moment on, she felt food was no longer safe.
She began cutting out more and more foods, experimenting with low FODMAP, paleo, and nightshade-free diets. Eventually, her “safe” foods were reduced to mainly just chicken, rice, courgettes, oats, rice cakes and dried banana chips.
The consequences were significant: she lost weight, her energy plummeted, and she suffered repeated colds and infections. Most of all, she felt anxious and fearful. Every meal was a gamble — would it be a “good” day or a “bad” one?
Like many people trying to make sense of unexplained digestive issues, she had also turned to testing. She ordered the ZOE stool test, which recommended eating a diet high in fibre. But for her, these foods only made things worse — more bloating, more discomfort, and more confusion. She followed the advice to the letter, yet it left her feeling even more anxious and mistrustful of her body.
GP visits hadn’t given her answers either. Blood tests were normal, and she was prescribed laxatives and antispasmodic medication, which didn’t feel right for her.
By the time she found me, she was exhausted, overwhelmed, and desperate to “just go back to how I was before.”
Looking Beyond the Plate
When she first came to see me, I could tell her nervous system was on high alert. Every meal was wrapped in stress and anxiety. Instead of diving into further private testing or restrictive diets, I wanted to shift the focus: what if the problem wasn’t just the food, but the environment her food was landing in?
I explained the gut–brain connection, and how stress directly affects digestion. She was fascinated to learn that anxiety itself can drive bloating, pain, and erratic bowel movements.
I suggested simple practices to create more calm around meals:
A short morning meditation.
Journaling to notice anxious thoughts without fixating on food.
Breathwork or meditation before meals when she felt especially stressed.
We also arranged for her GP to test for Helicobacter pylori and calprotectin, to rule out infection and inflammation.
Finding the Missing Piece
The GP results revealed that she did indeed have H. pylori. She chose to take antibiotics, which cleared her upper digestive symptoms almost immediately.
Alongside this, we supported her recovery with specialist probiotics, and liquid nutrients.
With her anxiety beginning to settle and her energy returning, we started gently reintroducing foods. I encouraged her to lead the process — choosing the foods she missed most — while I guided and supported her. Many foods were reintroduced without any issues. If one did cause discomfort, we simply paused and revisited later, without fear or pressure.
Life After Fear
Over the months, her relationship with food transformed. She stopped obsessing over symptoms and began enjoying food again.
Yes, occasional bloating still happened — but instead of spiralling into anxiety, she could let it go. Her energy returned, her bowels normalised, and she felt free to live her life again.
She described herself as delighted, amazed, and grateful for the change.
What This Story Teaches Us
Digestive symptoms like bloating, pain, or food sensitivities are not always about what you eat. Sometimes the real key lies in addressing the nervous system, reducing food fear, and creating safety for your body to digest properly.
For this client, the combination of clearing H. pylori, calming her anxiety, and gradually expanding her diet while gently supporting gut health allowed her to find freedom from food anxiety.
If You’re Struggling with Food Anxiety or Digestive Issues…
If you feel trapped by your digestion — constantly second-guessing meals, cutting out foods, or worrying about bloating and stomach pain — you are not alone. And importantly, there is another way forward.
Working on the gut–brain connection, reducing anxiety, and gently supporting the digestive system can be transformative.
If this story resonates with you, get in touch with me to find out how I can help you move towards food freedom and digestive ease.
