Casey wrote at the end of her response, “Thank you Nicole for this prompt, it was very cathartic to get this out!” and honestly, same. That’s the thing, isn’t it? There is so much EMOTION wrapped up in our digestive systems. Our guts can tell us something’s off, even when we aren’t consciously aware of what that might be. Scientists call the enteric nervous system in our gut the “second brain” for many reasons including the fact that our gut’s nervous system can operate independently of your…I guess we’re calling it our “first brain,” now? Especially if you’re an anxious gay (and who reading this isn’t at least a little anxious?), our feelings can so often settle in our stomachs and in our guts, making themselves known through pain and other maladies. And that’s not even getting started on what pregnancy or endometriosis or Long Covid, IBS or any number of conditions that can affect our digestive systems. Our guts have been through a lot! So, today, this anxious, stomach-gurgling queer wishes you some peace in your digestive system, as much as you can get. I hope you’ll join me in taking a deep breath, holding it, and releasing it slowly. Thank you to everyone who shared their bodily experiences for this roundtable. You’re all awesome for doing so! A+ members, if you’d like, I hope you’ll share in the comments, too.
xoxo,
Nicole
