i'm sorry your mother is going through this and hope the ulcer heals soon. what your doctor called a "bleeding ulcer" is usually called a " peptic ulcer " today. the likely reason the doctor called this a "stress ulcer" is because it used to be thought that mental or emotional stress caused an increase in the production of stomach acid which in turn could eat through a small area of the stomach lining and cause an ulcer (which is a little sore on the inside of the stomach or intestine). however there's no real scientific evidence to support the theory that mental stress causes an increase in stomach acid that leads to ulcers. this relationship may exist but it's not proven. it's still being investigated. that said if your mother is under a lot of stress in her life she owes it to herself to engage in some stress reduction activities. simple things like taking five minutes to close her eyes and focus on deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress levels. physical activity also is a great stress management tool. listening to music praying or meditating going for a walk -- any or all of these things can reduce the body's physical response to mental stress. if your mom needs help with stress management she can find many resources on the internet. wishing you both well!
the dr. called my mothers bleeding ulcer a stress ulcer. what does that mean?