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Why do I have a gut-wrenching feeling down my stomach after a friend told me something I disagree with, not physically, but emotionally?

98 Answers
Last Updated: 05/18/2022 at 5:35am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jill Kapil, PsyD

Psychologist

I have over 9 years of clinical experience, specialize in anxiety, and am passionate about my work. My approach is collaborative, empathic, supportive, and goal-oriented.

Top Rated Answers
LaszloSzakali
November 11th, 2020 2:44pm
Gut-wrenching events or experiences make you feel extremely shocked or upset. [mainly journalism] Going to court can be an expensive, time-consuming, and gut-wrenching experience that is best avoided.A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected. The connection between emotions and the gut can trigger symptoms in the stomach. Experiencing these emotions can trigger physical and chemical responses in the body that sometimes manifest as pain and discomfort. ... The butterflies in the stomach feeling is associated with the fight-or-flight response of the human body.
PeacefulMonk
November 6th, 2020 5:21am
Conflict is something that I am not good at. Other than making me breathe heavy and make my face hot, I usually walk away feeling hurt, anxious, and feeling small. Once my friend said something that I fully did not agree with. Before I even thought of a response, I could feel my ears get hot, and my stomach churn, I saw stars in my eyes, because I felt like what they are saying was so wrong. Instead of saying something to them, I started to avoid them and really have nothing to do with them. After about 3 months of this, I couldn't take it any more, I started the conversation with them as in remember 3 months ago you said this. They looked at me confused and couldn't remember at all. Well, then I felt even worse. Then my friend said, well if you disagree with something just speak up and we can talk about it. Of course this is the best case scenario. But ever since then, no matter how I feel, I speak up to put my point across
Tranquilshadows
April 14th, 2017 9:19pm
Differences of opinions can often lead to emotional turmoil, especially where friends are concerned. We like to be similar to our friends, so if we find out something that's drastically different, it can change out perspective of them.
windfox3
November 2nd, 2017 4:39am
We are creatures of emotion. What we hold as our values in our mind can create a physical reaction of disgust in our body. This is not because we are right or our friend is wrong. Both of the individuals can be RIGHT. But. We feel sick because our feelings are part of our survival. Anything that disrupts those feelings threatens us and our survival. Our Autonomic nervous system responds to any threat by clenching our stomach and reducing flow of blood to our limbs - thus the gut wrenching feeling. This is a biological response, not an admission of truth or wrong doing. It is important to know that we can be WRONG and still feel threatened. And, we can be RIGHT and still feel threatened. Both situations end in a gut wrenching feeling because our body is responding to a threat - not to what is right or what is wrong.
Liamazing13
October 18th, 2017 6:52pm
Maybe what your friend said has something to do with a personal problem / feeling of you (consciously or not). Them saying something you don't agree with about a sensitive subject might make you feel suddently anxious and/or sad and/or betrayed and/or even disgusted, making your body react in this unpleasant way.
kp2597
October 18th, 2017 1:31am
We all get triggered by things we are passionate about. Personally I get a burning feeling when someone gives me a counter argument to something I agree/disagree with, it is just a normal reaction. If this is something that deeply bothers you, ask your friend to chat with you and explain your feelings.
maiflower
October 14th, 2017 1:17am
If it is something that you are passionate about and something that you are emotionally connected to, then it's easy to get that feeling about things! I think it shows that you are caught between wanting to agree because they are your friend, and truly caring about what YOU think is right.
zenGuy
October 1st, 2017 12:26am
Considering they're a friend, it could stem from some type of insecurity of wanting other people to agree with you and be on the same page as you. When they're not it could lead to feelings of frustration since they might not see something the same way as you.
KateHod
August 11th, 2017 6:42pm
We all have our own beliefs and values and sometimes people we love and care about don't necessarily agree with them. Everybody is different and learning to accept that sometimes can be difficult and effect you in many ways, including emotionally.
SacredHope
June 23rd, 2017 2:50pm
That is a usual reaction, needn't worry about it. It's just that when we're close to people, we think our likings and dis-likings are same. This sometimes isn't true and as the other person has every right to express their own opinions, they do say something we disagree with. We should respect their opinion, that's why we have friends, isn't it? They are different and annoying at times, but we still love them! (vice versa)
annberlinn
May 12th, 2017 8:57am
Sometimes, we have this feeling because we always seek to hear things we want to hear - and when we hear what we need to hear but don't want to, we often times get this feeling because we don't like what we're told. Although it's one of the worst feelings to have, it helps you come to terms with the things you're being told - say for example you had a bad break up and your friend tells you he/she wasn't good for you to begin with but it isn't what you wanna hear, you're going to feel this way - and it's okay to feel this.
gloriousStar32
November 17th, 2017 7:48pm
When there is something you strongly disagree with , you do so because you have reason behind it. Its just your gut telling you ," you know that not right, start arguing on it "
magpieCentraal
December 30th, 2016 2:21pm
Perhaps because that topic taps into an intuitive feeling you already have about something relating to your own behaviours or past experiences. That moment of connecting the mind and the emotion is the gut feeling. Understanding the connection is the moment that requires meditation.
amiableTree17
December 11th, 2016 1:07pm
It's a reaction our body has when we might not feel good or right about something. She might have said something that upset you and it's totally normal to have a physical or emotional response to that.
pizzaasthetic13
December 8th, 2016 12:51am
It may hurt or upset you that a friend told you something you strongly disbelief in and even though everyone thinks differently, sometimes decisions people we love make can be heart wrenching.
BeyondEmpathy
September 28th, 2016 11:29am
It sounds like something has been really difficult or painful to hear. Maybe this is because it reminds you of something in your life or maybe goes against a value or belief that you hold. However if this reaction is so strong, maybe you'd find it helpful to discuss it with someone at 7 Cups?
specialUnicorns39
August 27th, 2016 5:59pm
actually our body translates our mental stress into physical symptom and thats why we feel a pain its not dangerous but bothering
lightandsea
August 18th, 2016 9:44am
This is not unusual! Our bodies react to our circumstances, even if they are the most intellectual discussions that are abstract - they can still cause a physical reaction. I always make a point to notice how I'm feeling in my body in reaction to something, and keeping that in mind can help me sort through complicated things.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2016 3:46am
That feeling is a head feeling to place. you may feel disappointed or stressed or let down. you feel that they have to agree with you.
Greatlistener87
July 21st, 2016 2:14am
Maybe because thats your friend and you were hoping that your friend would understand and share the same opinion as u do,
Anonymous
July 15th, 2018 5:45am
Honestly, some people can't handle little things. Even if it wouldn't be a big deal to a "normal" person, it tends to bother another person more.
Drphillis
March 22nd, 2019 1:04am
Words are powerful because they carry so much weight and evoke strong emotions. You’ve had an emotional response to what your friend has said because you feel so strongly about the statement. So take a moment, and figure out what exactly they’ve said that caused that emotion within you, and from that you’ll have an understanding why you reacted how you did. It’s only natural to react in situations where someone has said something we strongly disagree with, and despite it sometimes feeling like a physical sensation, it’s just our own moral compass reminding us that whatever they have said has caused an emotional stir within ourselves, which helps guide us and helps us figure out how we feel about difference situations, and whether we agree or disagree.
BiancaInTheSky
March 20th, 2019 8:55pm
I was thinking of a personal example, one time when a friend and I were discussing some event in our hometown. While we were talking, she said that she could understand why some people may have been against that event and what it expressed in terms of social and cultural views. I still remember that feeling in my stomach. My guess is that we choose friends also because we feel we share some values and beliefs. And sometimes, certain kinds of disagreement may reveal that we do not, in fact, share all the same values. In that moment, it felt almost like a betrayal to me, but the betrayal of a silent agreement ("We both put value on the same things") that we hadn't really discussed until that moment.
Lemi
January 10th, 2019 6:03pm
Because they are not totally wrong but I have strong reason to stay firm on my opinion. The feeling of torn apart between pushing my idea to them and coercing that they are wrong or letting them with their own ideas which make me feel like letting them on their own device. I care about them to voice my own opinion, yet i also need them to hear mine and see that what i am trying to do is 'meeting in the middle', not confronting and belittle their ideas. I am still struggling as to why they prefer to attack when disagreeing with me
Anonymous
December 30th, 2018 2:23am
It sounds like you might be experiencing anxiety over a potential disagreement with your friend. Perhaps what they said does not align with your moral code, or their beliefs invalidate something that is important to you. This feeling could be anger, fear, indignation, betrayal, or another unpleasant emotion manifesting itself. If you explore other times in your life to see when you have also experienced this feeling, it might help pinpoint what emotion is causing it. Emotions can manifest themselves in a number of ways, and sometimes the experience can be overwhelming. It's alright to experience these feelings, they are natural and sometimes helpful in finding what topics make you angry or anxious.
Anonymous
October 20th, 2018 9:01pm
the muscles of the gut are strongly connected to the emotional centers of the brain. this is an ancient physical response to threat, or fear. sometimes our bodies need to react faster than we can think things through, and this response to tighten the stomach to retain food and balance, or even to eliminate a burden in the gut, is primeval, very deep seated. i like to think of emotions as Indicators, telling us something that our thoughts are too slow to process. so, consider what your friend(s) is telling you, is it threatening to something in your life, or perhaps frightening in it's resonance with something that has been traumatic? perhaps it is some other kind of Alert, for an emotion i don't think of right away, but if you stop and examine your feelings, i am sure you will have the answer to your question.
SWstudentCounsellor205
October 12th, 2018 4:33pm
Its just your intuition, maybe which is probably a good thing by being your own guide as to what you should do, as you alone know what is best for you. Perhaps, it is a wise thing to heed it. It is emotionally draining you, apparently but do try to not let it keep you down. Staying positive at all times is needed. The feeling is understandable and your sensitivity to it is noticeable. You don't have to pretend to asgreevwith what you don't but being diplomatic has always been an ideal thing to do. Talking to an expert can help you more, if you need some additional support in this matter.
KurtCups711
July 25th, 2018 11:49pm
Fear and anxiety of conflict are powerful emotions. Fear that they wouldn't like you if they knew how you felt or that you might upset them. Anxiety about an impending argument or the thought that you are hiding something from your friend. Good friends find way to have a relationship despite their differences. The type of people you want as friends will accept you along with your conflicting opinions.
SocialLemon12
July 20th, 2018 4:28am
You are feeling possibly bad to disagree in person because it may hurt your friend. Try to relax. Clear your thoughts
zpeterson75
April 14th, 2019 10:27pm
There is potential between the two friends to get into an argument and ruin what was a perfectly fine friendship. If there is a disagreement, that may turn into an argument between the two friends. In my experience, I have been in these situations before and sometimes people will bring things into the argument that do not belong there. For instance, they could start attacking the other person about things they did a long time ago in the past or things that are irrelevant to the original issue. I believe the gut-wrenching feeling is a response to a fight or flight case and adrenaline because of what was previously mentioned.