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Can Stress Cause Diarrhea?
There's a big connection between your emotions and your gut. So, stress and anxiety can lead to diarrhea, nausea, indigestion, constipation or appetite changes.
Dec 13, 2019
Your HealthSheryl Kraft, a freelance writer and breast cancer survivor, was born in Long Beach, New York. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband Alan and dog Chloe, where her nest is empty of her two sons Jonathan. Sheryl writes articles and essays on breast cancer and contributes to a variety of publications and websites where she writes on general health and wellness issues. She earned her MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005.
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Dear HealthyWomen,
My digestive system seems to go off the rails every time I get stressed, annoyed or frightened. The emotions start firing, and then so does my stomach, with stomach cramps and, worse, diarrhea. Sometimes I get so nervous that I won't get to the bathroom in time, which only makes things spiral downward.
Is it the stress that's causing diarrhea, or is it the other way around?
Signed,
Stressed Out Stomach
Dear SOS,
It's not your imagination. There's a big connection between your emotions and your gut. Just like your brain is full of nerves, so is your gut; in fact, they share many of the same nerve connections.
And when you think about it, you can see the relationship: Butterflies in your stomach when you get nervous before a big speech. Cramps that make your belly feel like it's tied up in knots when you've just had a big blow-up with your spouse. A jumping sensation in your gut when an angry driver cuts you off.
Chronic worry, upset or a single stressful event can make your stomach react. And it's this reaction that releases hormones and chemicals into your digestive tract, where they go to work at upsetting its balance.
Learn more:Is It Stress or Anxiety?
In addition to causing diarrhea, stress may lead to conditions like nausea, indigestion, constipation, a loss of appetite or an increase in appetite. Find out about Stress Symptoms You Should Never Ignore.
The stress of diarrhea can also become a source of anxiety and exacerbate the problem. So, when you're feeling stressed and it results in diarrhea, having diarrhea can lead to more stress. So say many experts, including those at Harvard Medical School: "The relationship between environmental or psychological stress and gastrointestinal distress is complex and bidirectional: stress can trigger and worsen gastrointestinal pain and other symptoms, and vice versa."
Here are some ways to manage your stress to reduce its impact on your gut: