Can Anxiety Cause Diarrhea & Nausea
Can anxiety cause diarrhea & nausea? YES
Its actually quite cruel because what often happens is the stress of anxiety causes nervous stomach and loose bowels. And then that feeling of potential stress diarrhea triggers your anxiety even more!
Its a cruel circle of stress and anxiety with diarrhea.
However you can get control of your bowels and upset stomach as you learn to ease your anxiety, by growing your anxiety relief toolbox.
What is one tool that you have found to be useful when you notice yourself with an upset stomach leading to diarrhea due to anxiety?
Leave it in the comments below to help others who are also struggling.
Relieve Your Pets Stress
Its not unusual for pets to suffer stress-related diarrhea, especially when it comes to car rides or veterinary visits. Heres how you can help relieve the causes.
With a dog or cat who tends toward an anxious outlook on life, visiting the veterinarian can be a big stress. One of the most obvious signs of that stress can be diarrhea. Pet diarrhea is stressful for your pet and for you, the family, too! A fecal-filled carrier, loose stool in the crate, and an unhappy pet covered with stool are unpleasant for all involved.
How Often Can Diarrhea Occur
Those that suffer from persistent, regular anxiety may experience diarrhea at any time. During periods of anxiety, the brain tells the gut to slow or stop digestion, and the effects of that may be felt at any time. A person may experience diarrhea once a day, or they may experience it several times over a period of a few hours.
An exception is for those with panic attacks from anxiety. Panic attacks tend to trigger a more profound response in the gut. The intensity of these panic/anxiety attacks tends to have an immediate impact, and most of those with panic attacks will experience diarrhea either during or soon after an episode.
However, because those with panic attacks often also experience persistent or chronic anxiety, diarrhea can still occur at any time. Severe, frequent diarrhea should still be reviewed by a doctor to be safe.
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What To Do Right Now
If you are currently struggling with anxiety-induced diarrhea , you need a plan to help prevent reoccurrence or at least better manage your symptoms. Provided below are some strategies you can do right now.
As Bucky said to Captain America: “When you gotta go, you gotta go.”
Keep in mind, however, that once your gut is ready to go , there is very little you can do in that moment to stop the process. It is often better to just go. Trying to hold it in can be painful and cause other discomfort. Other immediate strategies include:
- Slow your breathing – Hyperventilation and panic attacks go hand-in-hand, and both contribute to considerable stress on the body. Taking slow, deliberate breaths while expanding your abdomen can reduce hyperventilation and the stress associated with anxiety attacks. If expanding your abdomen feels awkward, it is okay. Just work on slowing down your breathing.
- Stay distracted – Many people find that fixating on their abdominal issues tends to exacerbate the problem. Instead, make sure you are finding ways to stay distracted.
- Eat some bread – For many people, bread has a natural tendency to decrease diarrhea . It also serves as an effective distraction and promotes blood flow to your GI tract through your chewing, reactivating this system.
How Do Doctors Treat Diarrhea Caused By Stress
Though this link between stress and diarrhea has been fairly well established, it doesnt mean that one stressful incident will necessarily cause diarrhea. In some cases, stressful situations or chronic stress can lead directly to diarrhea, but stress can also be a trigger for some well known digestive problems like IBS, IBD, Crohns disease, or ulcerative colitis. It may also be that an ongoing anxiety disorder is behind ones anxious stomach issues.
If it can be determined that stress or anxiety are either causing diarrhea or triggering other digestive issues, the treatment options can then include a wide variety of methods and medications. Here are some common ways to effectively treat diarrhea as well as symptoms that may accompany diarrhea like abdominal pains, cramping, or bloating:
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How To Stop Diarrhea From Anxiety
Taking an anti-diarrhea over-the-counter medication, such as Imodium and Pepto Bismol, can quickly stop anxiety diarrhea. Reducing your anxiety and calming yourself can also stop anxiety diarrhea, although it might take more time. Overall, addressing your anxiety issues via therapy can resolve anxiety and anxiety diarrhea.
What Can I Give My Dog For Diarrhea
Can I give my dog probiotics? Though diarrhea may be short-term, they still run the risk of becoming dangerously dehydrated. Make sure to provide plenty of fresh, clean water to your dog while maintaining a consistent feeding schedule with a probiotic. Youll find it will do much to repopulate your dogs healthy gut bacteria.
When your dog feels anxious or upset, they can experience acute, short-term diarrhea. Here, again, a probiotic supplement can be used to calm your dogs digestive tract and promote colonization of good bacteria to help maintain microbial balance in the intestine.
Learn more about canine stress diarrhea in dogs by visiting your Veterinarian and ask your veterinarian about Pro Plan® Veterinary® Diets FortiFlora®.
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Take A Probiotic Daily
Probiotics are “good bacteria” that keep your gut balanced and healthy. Most people don’t have enough, and probiotics are particularly helpful for people who suffer from stomach issues such as IBS and diarrhea.
In fact, one study found female IBS patients experienced alleviation from symptoms such as abdominal pain and irregularity after taking a probiotic supplement.
But all probiotics are not equal. Here’s the one I use and recommend. Seriously, don’t skimp out on a probiotic. They’re a necessity for everyone regardless if you have IBS or not.
These techniques work differently for various people. You should try several of them and find the ones that work for you. If the symptoms dont subside with these techniques or even after seeking medical advice, you may want to consider psychological care. Therapy can help alleviate the stress and even prevent depression which may result from long-term psychological distress or trauma.
When Should You See A Doctor For Stress
Anytime you notice big differences in your digestion, you should consider seeing a doctor, Dr. Ganjhu says. “Any suspicion should be evaluated by a healthcare provider just to rule out all the bad stuff.” You probably won’t get really sick from stress diarrhea, but if it’s frequent, it could point toward an underlying problem like IBS or IBD.
It’s especially important to see a doctor if diarrhea is accompanied by so-called “alarm features” like unexpected weight loss, bloody stool, and intense abdominal pain, Dr. Newberry says. These symptoms can all be part of a more serious gut illness. Otherwise, a nervous stomach isn’t something to worry too much about.
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Bowel Anxiety Symptoms Problems
Bowel symptoms and problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome , abdominal cramps, and others can be signs of anxiety disorder.
This article explains the relationship between anxiety and bowel problems and symptoms.
To see if anxiety might be playing a role in your symptoms, rate your level of anxiety using our free one-minute instant results Anxiety Test, Anxiety Disorder Test, and Hyperstimulation Test.
The higher the rating, the more likely anxiety could be contributing to your symptoms, including bowel symptoms and problems.
Can Stress Cause Diarrhea
Psychological stress can cause a host of disturbances in the body. Some of these effects are well understood while others are less so. The deterimental effect of long term psychological stress is better understood these days but even in the short term, stress can affect the body in many different ways. Diarrhea is one possible consequence of psychological stress as is seen in anxiety-induced diarrhea.
It is important to note that diarrhea may not be associated with psychological stress when it arises along with other symptoms like fever. Although there can be symptoms like unintentional weight loss with periods of stress, it is important to consider colorectal cancer as a possible cause of diarrhea when this weight loss is also associated with symptoms like rectal bleeding.
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When Should I See A Doctor For Stress Diarrhea
If you have diarrhea that comes on when youre stressed and it doesnt bother you, then theres really no reason to see a doctor, Dr. Farhadi says. “That’s normal,” he adds. But if this happens to you a lot and it feels like its screwing up your ability to lead a normal life, its time to check in with a medical professional.
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Its really about the frequency and severity of the problem, Dr. Farhadi says. If the diarrhea is persistent, consistent, and has happened at least three times a week for the last 12 weeks, your doctor might suspect a medical condition like IBS-D. IBS-D, in case youre not familiar with it, is one of the three forms of irritable bowel syndrome .
IBS-D has several triggers, but stress is a big one, Dr. Menon notes. That said, having a lot of diarrhea when youre stressed could be a sign of other bowel conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or even a chronic food allergy, she points out. So, again, if your stress causes a lot of diarrhea and it bothers you, its worth at least a conversation with your doctor to try to figure out what’s happening in there.
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Keep in mind that your doctor might loop a therapist in at some point to help. Lots of people with IBS find that theyre a whole lot better with treatment for anxiety, Dr. Saltz says.
Can Anxiety Affect Your Bowels
Yes. Anxiety activates the stress response, which can affect the digestive system in many ways, such as:
- Increases hydrochloric acid to speed up processing the food already in the digestive system.
- Increases the urgency to urinate and vacate the bowels.
- Tightens muscles, including those that control the digestive system.
To name a few.
Any of these changes can cause digestive symptoms from diarrhea to constipation.
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Symptoms Suggestive Of Lactose Intolerance:
- Diarrhea or mushy stool after eating ice cream and other dairy products.
- Vomiting can occur in severe cases.
- Less commonly: Headache, muscle aches, joint pain, mouth ulcers, and impaired concentration .
Lactose intolerance is a widespread condition. So, consider consulting your doctor if you consistently get so much gas all the time.
Also, you can run a small experiment by eliminating dairy for a week and notice the changes in gas amounts. Then, tell your doctor or nutritionist if cutting lactose improves your condition.
Types Of Anxiety Bowel Problems
Your entire digestive tract is incredibly complex. There are plenty of medical issues – some common, some more serious – that can alter the health and behavior of the bowels, and lead to discomforts, wet stools, constipation, pain, and many other symptoms. From poor diet to illness, the bowels are often the place affected by a host of medical conditions.
There are also many bowel issues that can relate back to stress and anxiety as well. But what is interesting about bowel issues from anxiety is that they are related in a number of ways, some of which may not even yet be clear.
Below is a quick breakdown of some of the bowel problems that those with anxiety may struggle with. While it is not a comprehensive list, the bowel issues below are some of the most common reported issues and the ones that you or someone you care about may experience if they struggle from anxiety and stress related issues.
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How To Manage It
Getting help for anxiety can make a big difference in both mental and physical symptoms. Talking to a mental health professional is a good first step.
A therapist can help you find the treatment that best fits your needs, whether its therapy or a combination of therapy and medication. Some people who experience GI symptoms and anxiety or depression find that antidepressants help with both sets of symptoms.
Certain lifestyle changes could also help you manage symptoms of anxiety. Some tips that may be especially helpful for diarrhea and other stomach issues include:
- avoiding alcohol and tobacco
Its also important to know how to cope with anxiety and stress as you experience it. If youre working with a therapist, they can help you explore coping methods.
On a larger scale, it may also help to take inventory of your daily tasks, both at home and at work. If they feel overwhelming, set aside time to go over your responsibilities. Ask yourself if theyre essential, or if theres anything thats adding unnecessary stress to your life.
Can increased self-care or division of responsibilities reduce your load? Sometimes, taking a careful look at everything youre dealing with can help you find new ways to address challenges. If possible, involve a trusted co-worker or loved one in the process.
You may also want to make an appointment if:
Does Stress Cause Diarrhea
While stress is not the same as anxiety, it too can result in diarrhea. Everyone responds to stress in their own way, whether it is abdominal cramping, upset stomach, loss of sleep, fatigue, loss of appetite, overeating, and even decreasing your immune system – making you more susceptible to common colds.
So if you experience abdominal cramping whenever stressed, you could be more prone to having diarrhea. Stress is known for causing muscle tension, which may lead to your gastrointestinal system not digesting food effectively and causing an increased effect on defecation.
Both stress and anxiety are also known triggers of irritable bowel syndrome . But keep in mind that having anxiety and/or stress with diarrhea does not equate to a person being diagnosed with IBS. It is not exactly clear why that link occurs, but a person prone to IBS may find that it flares when they are under increased stress or pressure.
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Loose Stools Risk Factors
Anyone can have loose stools at some point in their lives. This affects both adults and children of all ages.
However, some people are at a higher risk of having loose stools. If you have certain chronic health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohns disease, dumping syndrome, ulcerative colitis, hyperthyroidism, or bile acid malabsorption, then youre more likely to have loose stools.
In most cases, loose stools are a temporary problem and resolve on their own. However, if your symptoms continue to get worse, and you have chronic loose stools, then its time to see a doctor.
See a doctor if you experience:
- chronic loose stools
Natural Remedies To Manage Diarrhea And Treat Loose Stools
Its possible to have loose stool every once in a while due to something you ate or a medication you are taking. However, once you have loose stool for a week or more, you need to treat it.
Loose stool can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, and other issues that can have a big effect on your health. Luckily, there are steps you can take to treat loose stool.
Drink more liquid: Dehydration is one of the biggest risks of loose stools. Drinking more water will help you avoid dehydration, and can also help with clearing out viruses during illnesses. Aim to drink between eight to 12 glasses of water each day. You can also have ginger ale, clear soups, and sparkling water to up your liquid intake.
Eat small meals: Smaller meals are easier on your stomach and digestive system, while larger meals are more likely to lead to loose stool. Instead of eating three meals per day, try to eat tinier portions throughout the entire day. This will ensure that your stomach and intestine can properly digest the food you are eating.
Avoid problem foods: Clean up your diet to help recover from loose stool. Try to determine if you have a food sensitivity and eliminate any foods which may be causing your reaction. An elimination diet can help you figure out what foods may contribute to your loose stool. However, there are some common foods that can cause digestive upset. These include foods that are spicy, greasy, and fried, or which contain dairy, caffeine, or alcohol.
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How To Get Rid Of Anxiety Diarrhea
When diarrhea is caused by other factors, addressing the cause can help alleviate episodes of diarrhea.
When diarrhea is caused by apprehensive behavior and the accompanying stress response changes, anxiety-triggered diarrhea will subside as the stress response ends.
Keep in mind, it can take up to 20 minutes or more for the body to recover from a major stress response. This is normal and shouldnt be a cause for concern.
When diarrhea is caused by hyperstimulation, reducing and eliminating hyperstimulation will reduce and eliminate hyperstimulation-caused diarrhea.
However, eliminating hyperstimulation can take much longer than most people think. Its common for symptoms of hyperstimulation to linger as long as the body is hyperstimulated.
Furthermore, hyperstimulation can cause multiple types of stomach and digestive problems, which can affect and aggravate each other.
For instance, IBS is often caused and aggravated by anxiety and hyperstimulation. IBS can also trigger episodes of diarrhea.
Nevertheless, eliminating hyperstimulation will eliminate its symptoms, including diarrhea.
You can reduce and eliminate hyperstimulation by:
- containing worry
- regular light to moderate exercise
- regular good sleep
- eating a diet of whole and natural foods.
Unfortunately, there are NO quick-fix cures for hyperstimulation or its symptoms. Eliminating hyperstimulation requires faithfully practicing your recovery strategies for a long enough period for the body to recover.