• Home
  • Politics
  • Health
  • World
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • More
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
What's Hot

Microsoft Bans Employees From Using ‘Chinese Propaganda’ Chatbot

May 9, 2025

How Smart Mattresses Improve Sleep Quality For Couples

May 9, 2025

OpenAI CEO Warns: ‘Not A Huge Amount Of Time’ Until China Overpowers American AI

May 9, 2025
Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Friday, May 9
Patriot Now NewsPatriot Now News
  • Home
  • Politics

    Security video shows brazen sexual assault of California woman by homeless man

    October 24, 2023

    Woman makes disturbing discovery after her boyfriend chases away home intruder who stabbed him

    October 24, 2023

    Poll finds Americans overwhelmingly support Israel’s war on Hamas, but younger Americans defend Hamas

    October 24, 2023

    Off-duty pilot charged with 83 counts of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shut off engines midflight on Alaska Airlines

    October 23, 2023

    Leaked audio of Shelia Jackson Lee abusively cursing staffer

    October 22, 2023
  • Health

    Disparities In Cataract Care Are A Sorry Sight

    October 16, 2023

    Vaccine Stocks—Including Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech And Novavax—Slide Amid Plummeting Demand

    October 16, 2023

    Long-term steroid use should be a last resort

    October 16, 2023

    Rite Aid Files For Bankruptcy With More ‘Underperforming Stores’ To Close

    October 16, 2023

    Who’s Still Dying From Complications Related To Covid-19?

    October 16, 2023
  • World

    New York Democrat Dan Goldman Accuses ‘Conservatives in the South’ of Holding Rallies with ‘Swastikas’

    October 13, 2023

    IDF Ret. Major General Describes Rushing to Save Son, Granddaughter During Hamas Invasion

    October 13, 2023

    Black Lives Matter Group Deletes Tweet Showing Support for Hamas 

    October 13, 2023

    AOC Denounces NYC Rally Cheering Hamas Terrorism: ‘Unacceptable’

    October 13, 2023

    L.A. Prosecutors Call Out Soros-Backed Gascón for Silence on Israel

    October 13, 2023
  • Business

    Microsoft Bans Employees From Using ‘Chinese Propaganda’ Chatbot

    May 9, 2025

    OpenAI CEO Warns: ‘Not A Huge Amount Of Time’ Until China Overpowers American AI

    May 9, 2025

    Trump Announces First Post-Tariff Trade Deal

    May 8, 2025

    Electric Vehicle Sales Nosedive As GOP Takes Buzzsaw To Biden’s Mandate

    May 7, 2025

    Tyson Foods Announces It Will Bend The Knee To Trump Admin’s New Rules

    May 7, 2025
  • Finance

    Ending China’s De Minimis Exception Brings 3 Benefits for Americans

    April 17, 2025

    The Trump Tariff Shock Should Push Indonesia to Reform Its Economy

    April 17, 2025

    Tariff Talks an Opportunity to Reinvigorate the Japan-US Alliance

    April 17, 2025

    How China’s Companies Are Responding to the US Trade War

    April 16, 2025

    The US Flip-flop Over H20 Chip Restrictions 

    April 16, 2025
  • Tech

    Cruz Confronts Zuckerberg on Pointless Warning for Child Porn Searches

    February 2, 2024

    FTX Abandons Plans to Relaunch Crypto Exchange, Commits to Full Repayment of Customers and Creditors

    February 2, 2024

    Elon Musk Proposes Tesla Reincorporates in Texas After Delaware Judge Voids Pay Package

    February 2, 2024

    Tesla’s Elon Musk Tops Disney’s Bob Iger as Most Overrated Chief Executive

    February 2, 2024

    Mark Zuckerberg’s Wealth Grew $84 Billion in 2023 as Pedophiles Target Children on Facebook, Instagram

    February 2, 2024
  • More
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
Patriot Now NewsPatriot Now News
Home»Health»Why Stress & Anxiety Make You Poop
Health

Why Stress & Anxiety Make You Poop

February 13, 2023No Comments9 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Why Stress & Anxiety Make You Poop
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

‘Nervous poos’ or ‘anxiety poops’ are more common than you might think. If you find you’re pooping more when you’re stressed or anxious, don’t worry you aren’t alone!

You might find yourself running to the toilet before a big presentation, an interview, or before an important day at school. If you struggle with anxiety, you might find that on days when your anxiety is high, you’re using the bathroom more often.

It’s not just in your head: stress and anxiety can actually affect your bowel movements. We’ll take a look at why this happens, and what you can do about it.

Why Do Stress and Anxiety Make You Poop?

Gut-Brain Axis

Your brain and digestive system are closely linked and can influence one another. Your emotions can have a big impact on your gut.

This can sound a bit far-fetched, but if you really think about it, there are lots of examples. You know when you feel nervous or excited and you get ‘butterflies in your stomach’? Or if you’re feeling angry or upset and don’t feel like eating? These are all examples of this strong connection between your emotions and your digestive system.

This connection is called the “gut microbiota-brain axis” or simply the “gut-brain axis”. Research shows that when we’re stressed or anxious, the hormones our body releases can disrupt the gut microbiota in our digestive tract. This affects the movement through our digestive tract, which can make us poop more!

Interestingly, evidence shows that this connection is bidirectional, meaning the health of our gut can also influence our brain function and mood.

Pain Messages

Some research suggests that anxiety may change how our brain interprets messages from the visceral nerves, which are nerves in our stomach and intestines. Scientists believe the brain may ‘think’ that the stomach and intestines are sending pain messages or indicating that movement needs to be sped up. This can result in diarrhea when we feel anxious.

Fight or Flight Response

Is Stress & Anxiety Making You Poop?

You’ll likely have heard of the ‘fight or flight’ response: it’s how our body responds when it faces a ‘threat’ of any kind. Our nervous system gets us ready for action by increasing our heart and breathing rate. Resources are redirected to areas of the body that will be needed for action, and away from those that won’t (such as your digestive system).

This results in movements in the stomach and small intestine being slowed down, while movement in the large intestine is sped up. Unfortunately, this typically leads to diarrhea.

The flight or flight response is helpful and keeps us safe when we face a threat, but when it’s activated for a prolonged period due to stress or anxiety, it can take its toll on the body.

Changes in Sleep

Often when we’re stressed or anxious, we make lifestyle changes that can indirectly affect our digestive system. For example, if you have an important test or interview the next day, you might stay up late practicing or you might find that you are unable to sleep restfully due to nerves.

See also  13-Year-Old Ohio Boy Dies After Trying The TikTok ‘Benadryl Challenge’

Lack of sleep can increase stress levels and the stress response in the body, which can contribute to digestive issues.

Some research shows a link between sleep quality and digestive health, with one study finding that: “poor sleep is associated with increased odds for multiple upper and lower GI symptoms”. This includes more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and constipation.

Changes in Diet

If you’re nervous you might eat more or less than you usually do, which understandably can affect your digestive system. You might also make different food choices, for example reaching for less healthy foods because they feel comforting or because they’re quick to grab.

If you do this, you aren’t alone and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. However, these dietary changes can upset your digestive system and contribute to changes in bowel movements.

What You Can Do About It

Is Stress & Anxiety Making You Poop?

Now that we know what causes ‘nervous poops’, you might be wondering what you can do about it! Don’t worry, there are ways you can tackle the problem by improving your gut health and reducing stress levels. The tips below are a great place to start.

Alter Your Diet

Changing what you eat and drink, especially before an event that might make you feel anxious or stressed, can help you to settle your stomach. Try to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine as these can upset your stomach and may play a part in increasing anxiety.

Avoid excessively spicy, rich, or fatty foods before an important event. They’re heavy on your stomach and irritate your digestive system. If possible stick to balanced, healthy meals, especially you’re facing times of stress.

You might notice specific dietary triggers that irritate your stomach. If you do, you can start making a note of them to see if they consistently have this effect, then you can avoid these triggers to improve your digestive health.

Improve Your Sleep

Since sleep can have such a pivotal influence on your stress levels, you can tackle stress by working on improving your sleep. Actively make sleep a priority, even more so when you know you have a stressful event coming up.

Sleep hygiene, which simply means positive habits to improve your sleep quality, can be helpful. This includes making time to wind down before bed; watching what you eat and drink close to bedtime and making your bedroom a relaxing place.

Sleeping when you’re stressed can be difficult, but it is possible. Here are some more tips to guide you.

See also  Suicide-related ED visits among youth sharply increase, study finds

Mindfulness

Is Stress & Anxiety Making You Poop?

Mindfulness is an excellent way to reduce stress and anxiety, helping you to regulate your emotions and feel calmer. Mindfulness practices are about being present in the moment without worry or judgment.

Practicing mindfulness regularly has a whole range of wonderful benefits, including:

  • Reducing stress and anxiety
  • Promoting a sense of calm
  • Helping you to regulate your emotions
  • Improving cognitive function
  • Improving your physical health

You can check out more about the benefits of mindfulness in our detailed article.

Impressively, research shows that mindfulness has the power to reduce the fight or flight response, actively reducing the impact of stress.

There are lots of types of mindfulness you can try, for example, meditation, guided visualization, breathing exercises, mindful movement (like yoga and tai chi), and even eating mindfully!

Yes, that’s right, you can engage in mindfulness while you’re preparing food and eating it. It can even improve your relationship with food and promote better digestion. Check out our guide on mindful eating if you want to learn more.

Exercise

Exercise is a fantastic way to tackle stress and anxiety, as well as helping to regulate your digestive system. Of course, it also has a wide range of other health benefits too!

Research shows that when we exercise, stress hormones are reduced, and ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins are increased. This helps us to feel calmer and promotes a sense of well-being.

Exercise also helps us to deal with the fight or flight response, and in turn, protects our digestive system from the harmful effects of stress.

Stay Hydrated

Is Stress & Anxiety Making You Poop?

Studies show that if you’re dehydrated, it can increase the body’s stress response, including levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Thankfully that means that staying hydrated is a simple but effective way to reduce stress levels in your body and keep yourself healthy.

If you have diarrhea, it’s really important that you keep yourself hydrated as you’re losing more fluid than normal. So, keep drinking that water!

Over the Counter Medication

There are over-the-counter medications that can help you to tackle diarrhea and constipation at home. They can also help with other symptoms of digestive upset, such as bloating and cramping.

Always follow the label carefully so you know how to take the medication safely. It’s always best to check with your doctor before taking over-the-counter medicine, especially if you have other health conditions or take prescription medication.

Deal With Stressors Head-On

If you can identify specific stressors in your life then dealing with them head-on can help you to tackle the problem and reduce stress in your life. For example, if you have a problem at work you might be able to talk to your colleagues or manager, or if you have an issue with a friend or partner, open communication may be able to resolve things.

See also  What causes rare myocarditis in young men after Covid vaccines?

Although it’s natural to avoid difficult situations, this only leaves your emotions bottled up and increases stress over time. Even if it makes you a bit nervous, facing things and making proactive changes can be beneficial!

Check out our article on how to live a stress-free life for more tips on how to reduce stress.

When to Seek Help

Is Stress & Anxiety Making You Poop?

When health problems get too much, it’s time to reach out for professional help so you can get things back on track. Let’s take a look at when you should seek help.

Getting Help for Anxiety and Stress

If your stress or anxiety is lasting for long periods, for example, months at a time, and you find that it’s disrupting your life and making it hard to function, then it’s time to ask for help.

You can start by going to your doctor, and they may refer you to services that can help if needed. You may be able to try medications to help you cope, and therapy to give you the tools you need to deal with your emotions.

When to Seek Help for Digestive Problems

If you experience any of the following, it’s best to get checked by your doctor to make sure your digestive issues aren’t anything more serious:

  • Ongoing diarrhea or constipation that lasts for days or weeks at a time
  • Severe stomach pain
  • Poop that contains blood or pus
  • Poop that is black or looks ‘tarry’
  • Unexplained weight loss

Ongoing, additional symptoms of illness such as vomiting, feeling dizzy, and severe fatigue

If you feel as though something isn’t right, it’s always best to get checked by a professional. You know your body best!

No More Anxious Poops!

By reducing stress in your life and improving your digestive health, you can reduce anxious poops or even stop them all together! Try out some of these tips next time you’re struggling and see if they make a difference.

1. Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA, (2020), “Can anxiety cause diarrhea?” Medical News Today.

2. Jane A.Foster, Linda Rinaman, John F.Cryan, (2017), “Stress & the gut-brain axis: Regulation by the microbiome”. Neurobiology of Stress, Volume 7, December 2017, Pages 124-136.

3. Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, (2008), “Sleep and Mood”.

4. Cremonini, F., Camilleri, M., Zinsmeister, A. R., Herrick, L. M., Beebe, T., & Talley, N. J. (2009). “Sleep disturbances are linked to both upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms in the general population.” Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society, 21(2), 128–135.

5. Tom Ireland, (2014), “What Does Mindfulness Meditation Do to Your Brain?” Scientific American.

6. Mayo Clinic, (2020), “Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress”.

7. Gina Shaw, (2009), “Water and Stress Reduction: Sipping Stress Away”. WebMD.

Anxiety Poop Stress
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

83 Funny Graduation Quotes for Hilarious Humor and Stress Relief About Your Future

May 5, 2025

80 Funny Summer Quotes for Laughs, Stress Relief and a Hilarious Hot Season

April 25, 2025

My 8 Top Tips For Stress Free Living

April 23, 2025

180 Funny Quotes of the Day for Laughs, Positive Vibes and Stress Relief

March 31, 2025
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Top Posts

‘They Used Me To Silence Moms And Dads’: Pardoned Virginia Father Speaks Out About DOJ Memo, ‘Evil’ Soros-Backed DA

September 11, 2023

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Signs ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ Into Law

June 17, 2023

Serbian President Denies Military Buildup on Border with Kosovo

October 4, 2023

Lisa Vanderpump’s Husband Fighting $1 Million Lawsuit Brought By PUMP’s Ex-Landlord, Denies Owing Unpaid Rent

September 16, 2023
Don't Miss

Microsoft Bans Employees From Using ‘Chinese Propaganda’ Chatbot

Business May 9, 2025

Microsoft has banned employees from using DeepSeek — the viral Chinese chatbot it worries is…

How Smart Mattresses Improve Sleep Quality For Couples

May 9, 2025

OpenAI CEO Warns: ‘Not A Huge Amount Of Time’ Until China Overpowers American AI

May 9, 2025

Short and Funny Sayings for a Happy Summer with Friends

May 9, 2025
About
About

This is your World, Tech, Health, Entertainment and Sports website. We provide the latest breaking news straight from the News industry.

We're social. Connect with us:

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
Categories
  • Business (4,112)
  • Entertainment (4,220)
  • Finance (3,202)
  • Health (1,938)
  • Lifestyle (1,628)
  • Politics (3,084)
  • Sports (4,036)
  • Tech (2,006)
  • Uncategorized (4)
  • World (3,944)
Our Picks

Vanderpump Rules Movie Star Tom Sandoval Tries To Tame Unruly Guest At Formal Event

September 3, 2023

Ex-NBA Player Joe Smith Becomes Enraged After He Discovers Wife’s OnlyFans Page

October 31, 2023

Will Inspire You to End Child Sex Trafficking

July 6, 2023
Popular Posts

Microsoft Bans Employees From Using ‘Chinese Propaganda’ Chatbot

May 9, 2025

How Smart Mattresses Improve Sleep Quality For Couples

May 9, 2025

OpenAI CEO Warns: ‘Not A Huge Amount Of Time’ Until China Overpowers American AI

May 9, 2025
© 2025 Patriotnownews.com - All rights reserved.
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.