Stress and diarrhoea

Common causes of stress

Diarrhoea caused by stress related to work or social occasions affects about one in five people. Stressful events such as interviews, examinations 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.

Why stress causes diarrhoea

In our intestines, we have muscles which tighten and relax in rhythmic waves, pushing the contents of the bowel along – literally your bowel movements. This movement is known as ‘peristalsis’, which is controlled by the ‘enteric nervous system’, connected to the central nervous system and, ultimately, your brain.

 

When you are nervous, your body produces adrenaline – a hormone that is referred to as the ‘fight, flight, fright’ hormone – as well as other powerful chemicals. These affect your central nervous system, which speeds everything up in your body, including your intestines, via the enteric nervous system. This upsets the natural balance of your digestive system, causing your body to absorb less fluid than normal, making your stools become more frequent and watery.

 

Just a small reduction in the amount of fluid absorbed by the intestines can be enough to lead to an attack of diarrhoea. And if you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you are even more likely to experience stress-related diarrhoea.