Stress always makes mine act up. I think it's the adrenaline and cortisol making more acid.

Thanks so much for the reply. I have a crazy ocd obsession that my stomach is going to explode. So as you can imagine anytime I feel pain in my stomach I start obsessing and feeling anxious. I've had this obsession for years and ironically the stress probably brought on the gastritis.

I don't believe stress brings on gastritis. I do believe it can cause it to be worse or more painful because of the adrenaline, etc. If gastritis isn't caused by anything they've tested for, ulcers, excess acid, food intolerances/allergies, too many nsaids...then I am firmly in the camp that this is a viral issue. Enterovirus can cause gastritis that can't be cured, only calmed, until the virus runs it's course. There is no telling how long that might be. So, the best we can do is to eat right, be as peaceful as possible, avoid nsaids, and take whatever meds/ herbal or otherwise that work for us...and wait.
I also have CFS/CFIDS/ME and recently discovered that folks like me have a propensity for having an enterovirus lurking inside us. Sometimes it settles in the stomach after an injury, an ulcer, surgery (I had this), etc...and other folks can get these as well.
Your ocd didn't cause your gastritis. You didn't do this to yourself. If it feels like it's going to explode that's very telling to me. It says you are loaded with gas and perhaps have many food intolerances and/or yeast-candida. Have you tried cutting out all gluten/dairy? It would be the first good shot at feeling less bloated...
hope you feel better and please stop blaming yourself. This is something that happened to you, not because of you.

What a kind message. Thank you. No one has EVER told me I didn't bring this on myself. Everyone says my anxiety and stress brought this on me. Actually, my stomach isn't bloated (only when the gastritis initially started), but I get these sharp stabbing pains that last for seconds and I feel like my stomach is going to rip open! Sometimes I go 6 weeks between these pains. But every time they hit, my nerves start shaking. But now I am on stress J ( a homeopathic tincture "prescribed" by my natureopathic nutritionist and it is stopping my nerves when I feel the pain. I just read your conversation with your GI and that is the similar reaction I have received over the past 20 years about my anxiety. Not one doctor ever gave it any credence. This natureopath said my stomach will never heal as long as I am continuing to have such extreme anxiety and finally gave me something that works.

I'm looking for something to help with stress and anxiety too. Noticed that Stress J contains vitamin C but can't find out how much.

Contained within this botanical blend is one of the most popular medicinal herbs in Europe -- chamomile. Chamomile is used in supplements and teas for the purposes of gentle stress relief. This product also contains passion flower and hops flower, both of which are commonly used in herbal stress relief formulas due to their calming nature.

In addition to the chamomile, passion flower and hops flower, Stress-J also contains fennel seeds, marshmallow root and feverfew herb. This formula contains nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, chromium and magnesium. The well-balanced blend of herbs in this formula work well together and with certain other supplements.

Hi Steve123, Is Vitamin C a bad thing for those of us with Gastritis? I know it is ascorbic acid, but is it okay in small amounts. I just want to know because my gastritis has come back with almost the same symptoms I had initially, but I have been going through my diet and I think it might be the aloe vera juice I take which has lemon juice in it (and of course getting stressed didn't help). Thanks!