Busy modern lifestyles

Stress related diarrhoea

Diarrhoea caused by stress related to work or social occasions affects many people. Stressful events such as interviews, exams or having to talk in public are key culprits for disrupting the natural rhythm of our digestive systems.
In some cases, just being very busy, which can itself be stressful, will bring on a bout of diarrhoea.

Busy work routine? Don’t let diarrhoea be the boss

Everyone gets stressed at work now and then, but work-related diarrhoea is a sign that it’s affecting you physically and mentally. Not only can it be especially inconvenient to have diarrhoea at work, it can leave you feeling tired and rundown, and even less able to cope with your day.

How to survive the 9 to 5

• Learn to be assertive
  Know when to say no without upsetting or offending people. Or if you’re in a potentially confrontational situation, try to keep calm and look for a solution where everyone can achieve a positive outcome.
• Learn to manage your time more effectively
  Prioritise your day and give unpleasant tasks a high priority, so you can get them out of the way rather than having them on your mind all day.
• Accept the things you cannot change
  Try to improve stressful situations but if this is not possible, do your best to accept things as they are.
• Try to see things differently
  If something is bothering you, try to see it from a different and less stressful perspective. Talk it over with someone else before it gets out of proportion.
• Avoid depending on alcohol, nicotine and caffeine
  Long term, this will just add to the problem. For example, caffeine is a stimulant, which can cause stress.
• Get physical
  Physical activity works off the biochemical and physical changes that stress causes in your body.
• Learn relaxation techniques
  Good relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, massage and a variety of complementary therapies.

How to succeed at stopping diarrhoea

If you know that stress or nerves disturb your body’s natural rhythm, here are a few tips to help you prepare for a stressful event:

• Know your stuff
  Obviously, the more confident you are about the exam or interview, the less stressed you will be, so make sure you allow yourself enough time to revise for the big day. If you’re preparing for a speech or interview, try and go through your lines and answers with other people.
• Breathe
  Learn to breathe deeply and slowly to calm yourself. You could even learn how to meditate.
• Eat relaxing foods
  Wholegrains and green, leafy vegetables are rich in B vitamins, which are thought to help you relax – so make wholemeal sandwiches and tuck into oaty snacks.
• Get physical
  Physical activity works off the biochemical and physical changes that stress causes in your body.