Modern lifestyles: stress and anxiety
Common causes of stress
The stress and pressure of modern day life can often affect us physically as well as mentally, upsetting the delicate balance of our digestive systems.
Diarrhoea caused by stress related to work or social occasions affects some people. Stressful events such as interviews, examinations or having to talk in public are key culprits. And 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.
When you are nervous, your body produces adrenaline, as well as other powerful chemicals; which can affect your central nervous system, speeding everything up in your body, including your intestines. 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.
Stress from work
Everyone gets stressed at work now and then, but work-related diarrhoea is your body’s way of telling you you’re not coping. Not only can it be inconvenient to have diarrhoea at work, it can leave you feeling tired and rundown, and even less able to manage.
Causes of stress at work and surviving the 9 to 5
- Not taking a break – skipping lunch is one way to make up time but people normally perform much better after a rest
- Snacking on sugary foods – a sugar rush won’t help your system or your stress levels. Try to eat fruit, vegetables and oaty snacks
- Saying “yes” when you mean “no” – learn how and when you can say “no” without offending people and try to stay calm in potentially confrontational situations
- Losing your sense of humour – laughter is a great stress reducer and boosts the immune system, which is often weakened by stress, so try to see the funny side of a situation
Incorporating some of these tips into your day could help to ease the symptoms. Find out more about coping with stress in our prevention section.
How does IMODIUM® work?
Contrary to popular belief, IMODIUM® does not act like a 'cork'. The active ingredient 'loperamide’, calms the digestive system and helps to restore your body’s harmony, leading to firmer stools.
Diarrhoea caused by having to perform in public is such a well recognised problem, it even has its own name – Performance Anxiety Diarrhoea (PAD). If you know you’re a sufferer, having a pack of IMODIUM® Instants to hand and taking it at the first sign of diarrhoea, can give you the confidence you need to perform at your best.
To find out more, visit our Stress and diarrhoea section.
| Intestines |
Part of the digestive system, consisting of the small and large intestines, found in the abdomen |
| Peristalsis |
The movement made by muscles in our intestines which tighten and relax in rhythmic waves, pushing the contents of the bowel along. This motion also mixes food with acids in the stomach, turning it into a thin liquid. |
| Bowel |
Another name for the intestine; also known as the gut.
|
| Stools |
Also known colloquially as ‘poo’; this is the solid waste matter that passes through the rectum, in the form of bowel movements. Stools are made up of undigested food, bacteria, mucus, and dead cells. |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) |
A common gastrointestinal disorder, characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, mucus in stools, and irregular bowel habits, with alternating diarrhoea and constipation. |