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Why do anxious feelings create the need to go to toilet frequently?

193 Answers
Last Updated: 02/19/2022 at 2:01pm
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United States
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Lisa Groesz, PhD

Psychologist

With evidenced based therapies, we find the root of the problem together to implement solutions. We all face crises, transitions, or disorders at some time.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
April 14th, 2021 7:03am
For me personally going to the toilet is almost like a sanctuary and a safe space. As a result, I feel that when I'm there I am able to calmly think through my problems and feel as if I have left the toilet much less anxious than when I felt I needed to go to the toilet. So, if you're feeling that you need to go to the toilet frequently when anxious it could just be your bodies natural reaction to the anxious feeling because it knows that going to the bathroom could potentially alleviate you from the anxious feeling and return your body to a happy and healthy equilibrium.
mildaandstela
April 18th, 2021 10:55am
anxious feelings / thoughts have a significant impact on your body. there's this thing called "somatic symptoms". somatic symptoms come from psychological problems, which for sure occur in your mind. basically, your mind sends signals that something is wrong with your mental health and those signals occur in other body parts. most common symptoms are headache, digestion problems and even the need to go to toilet. your body feels like it is in an instant stress, and therefore it can even impact your urinary system. how to deal with this? first of all, try to understand why those anxious feelings occur. try to calm yourself in your favourite activities. and i'm sure everything will be solved out.
Ririki98
April 28th, 2021 8:49am
Anxiety can cause an ongoing feeling of urgency, or needing to go to the bathroom. This is due to the fight or flight system being activated as a result of stress. Pressure builds up inside of the body, causing stool to feel like it needs to come out. There is a good chance that although you are feeling anxious, you are only feeling a portion of the anxiety that you hold unconsciously. The rest of it needs to express itself in some manner, and in your case it seems to result in more frequent trips to the toilet. The more you can express the less this should happen.
peacefulSunrise965
May 23rd, 2021 3:20pm
We are all animals in the very basic thinking. When confronted with fear or anxiety our bodies respond as either fight flight or freeze. Think about dogs when they really scared they pee and poo. This might give the impression of it is dead to predators so that predator (stressor) would go away. On top of all that, some experts suspect that the fight-or-flight response could also put our kidneys into overdrive, causing them to produce more urine than usual. But don't worry. You can train yourself otherwise by getting CBT. It can also help people understand that frequent urination is simply a byproduct of their anxiety and also that they probably don’t have to pee as much as they think they do. Moreover, mindfulness and pelvic exercises can also help to control your bladder.
APaletteFullofColors
August 18th, 2021 5:53pm
As humans, there are certain responses that our bodies may have in response to stressful situations. The common ones that people think are "fight" and "flight," but there's also the response of "freeze," the kind of paralysis that keeps you frozen in place. Additionally, the way that we may feel psychologically can also have direct impacts on our physical bodies and biological functions. The anxiousness that people may experience can affect their digestive systems, causing pressure inside their intestines. This might be one of the reasons why anxiety can cause a person to have to use the restroom frequently.
compassionatekoala2021
September 5th, 2021 8:22pm
This is due to our fight or flight (or fight or freeze) response. Our brain sends these responses to our body and, in turn, our body deciphers what needs to happen. If we need to run, we need to expel whatever we can to be faster. Sometimes this means our bodies want to go to the bathroom in times of anxiety. This can also be why some people feel the need to vomit when dealing with anxiety; our body wants to get rid of any excess. Some exercises may help, such as breathing techniques or grounding techniques may help alleviate these feelings.
blissfulPink9961
October 2nd, 2021 1:57am
“During heightened anxiety, the amount of serotonin increases in your gut and can cause spasms to happen throughout your entire colon.” These spasms are enough to produce unexpected bowel movements. In addition to stress hormones, anxiety poop may also be linked to your nervous system.When you start to feel anxious, however, things don’t run as smoothly. This is largely due to the fact that our bladders are closely connected to our body’s fear system — aka our “fight-or-flight” response. When that response activates, our brain tends to override all those lovely signals telling us whether or not it’s actually time to pee. At the same time, our bladder muscles contract, which puts more pressure on the bladder and sends us running for the bathroom.
Anonymous
October 30th, 2021 12:45pm
Scientifically, anxiety increases the amount of serotonin in your gut (I have no idea why), which may cause your colon to spasm. When your colon spasms, your bowels are likely to move. Bowel movement generally equals the need to poo. When it comes to urinating, anxiety causes some of our hormones to shift, thus resulting in our bladders’ not being relaxed. They tend to contract because of this hormonal shift. Hence, the need to pee. The human body has an interesting response to anxiety + anxious feelings, you should research into it a bit more, you'll find there's more to it than what I have said.
Anonymous
January 2nd, 2022 12:13pm
Anxiety can exist in many forms, and just as an upset stomach can occur after rides at an amusement park, anxiety and nerves that result from everyday life also have the ability to target specific receptors in the gut that lead to the same feelings and the increased use of the toilet. This is why treating anxiety and symptoms of anxiety necessitates a multifaceted approach as it can affect all aspects of ones body. Things that can help with lessening these anxious feelings to hopefully lessen visits to the bathroom are the same stress relieving exercises that are supported by all, yoga, breathing exercise, mindfulness, and talk therapy.
stellaglaze
January 6th, 2022 8:32am
Anxiety has a super significant link to our nervous systems, which can often times explain why people with anxiety seem to have lots of stomach problems. I personally developed a condition called SIBO, which stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and I recently learned that it most likely sprouted from me being extremely stressed and anxious. Talking to a doctor to help take a look at your nervous system/stomach might really help with alleviating some of your physical problems that may have spurred from anxiety. Something that has also helped me is using a heating pad on my stomach and eating foods that I know won't cause my stomach to act up!
Vithleem
January 15th, 2022 2:44pm
Scientists say that our emotions are able to affect the way by which our bodies function. We are referring to psychosomatic problems, in other words. Of course, every person's reaction differs, as we all have different experiences and ways to overcome problems. If you notice that your toilet habits have recently changed, it would be helpful to discuss this with a professional who will explain to you what you can do to take care of yourself. Furthermore, you can try to eat a bit more healthy and add some walking to your daily routine. Finally, you can ask some people that you trust to tell if if they ever had a similar problem and what they did to overcome it.
iamhereforuss
February 4th, 2022 12:11pm
Diarrhea, along with other digestive problems that often accompany anxiety, can happen because of the connection between your gut and your brain, known as the gut-brain axis. The axis connects your central nervous system to your enteric nervous system (ENS), which acts as your gut’s nervous system. The ENS helps regulate processes in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But it also has an effect on your emotions and behavior through its link to your brain. When you’re distressed, chemical messengers carry signals from your brain to your gut. Your gut sometimes responds to these signals with physical symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, or constipation. This link works both ways. If you have digestive issues or other GI problems, you might experience psychological symptoms. And having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or related conditions is linked to an increased risk for anxiety and other mood symptoms.
Anonymous
February 19th, 2022 2:01pm
When you are feeling anxious, it is a very normal physiological response to the need to urinate more frequently or have bowel movement issues. Your muscles tense up when you are experiencing anxiety, and this creates pressure on your bladder and your abdomen. The added pressure can make you feel like you need to go to the toilet! Additionally, extreme stress or anxiety may activate a surge of adrenaline known as our "fight or flight" response and in turn, can increase the kidney's production of urine and lead to the need to 'relieve yourself'. Similarly, diarrhoea may occur as an outcome of anxiety as there is a direct connection between your gut and your brain. When a person is anxious, the body releases hormones, which can result in a chemical imbalance disrupting the gut flora and cause diarrhoea.