If you experience extreme pressure or a perceived threat, your body may respond to such situations. These natural responses are called stress. A little bit of stress can improve your productivity and help you meet strict deadlines. However, if a situation goes out of your hands, your body may adversely respond to such problems. As a result, your stress levels enhance, and you experience physical, emotional, and mental changes. 

Stress can also cause gastrointestinal problems. Moreover, stress and diarrhea are linked to each other. Here is more information on stress induced diarrhea and its symptoms. 

Can stress cause diarrhea?

If you are under pressure, your body may react to such situations by bringing gastrointestinal changes. As a result, you may experience stress triggered diarrhea. The symptoms of diarrhoea include:

• Pain in abdomen and muscle cramps
• Low bowel control
• An urge to empty the bowels

You can develop chronic and acute diarrhoea. If you have acute diarrhoea, you may experience loose and watery stools for 1-2 days. However, if the problem continues for more than four weeks, you must consult a doctor. Chronic diarrhoea requires medical attention as it can deteriorate your health. As far as stress induced diarrhea is concerned, it can be treated by controlling stress and its symptoms. 

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Diarrhoea causes 

It is normal to experience diarrhoea at some point in your life. The causes of diarrhoea include:

• Stress and anxiety
• Certain medications
• Food poisoning
• Celiac diseases
• Food intolerances
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Overactive thyroid
• Bowel cancer
• Nervousness

These are the common causes of diarrhoea. However, you can experience stress triggered diarrhea when you get nervous or feel tremendous pressure. 

Causes of stress-induced diarrhoea 

Can stress cause diarrhea? As surprising as it may sound, stress can be a triggering factor for diarrhoea. It can mess up your gastrointestinal tract. If you feel threatened, your brain releases different hormones. These hormones bring physical changes, which are evident through high blood pressure and increased heart rate. As a result, your body enters a “fight or flight” mode. In addition, your brain signals your gut about stressful situations. When these signals reach your gut, it responds accordingly. The gut releases hormones, which slows the movements in the stomach and small intestine. Unfortunately, these hormonal changes result in diarrhoea. 

If you have stress-induced diarrhoea, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Muscle tensions
• Tiredness
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Depression
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sleep problems
• Changes in sex drive

Stress and sleep quality are interlinked. If you are stressed, you may not get proper sleep. Moreover, improper sleeping habits may lead to stress. If you have developed diarrhea from stress, you can improve your condition by undergoing treatments. To answer “Does stress cause diarrhea?”; the answer is a simple “Yes!”.

Treatment and management 

You can easily treat diarrhea from stress by managing your stress levels. Moreover, you must address the physical symptoms of stress-induced diarrhoea. If you have acute diarrhoea, you can get well in a few days. Fortunately, you will not need any treatment. However, you can follow these tips to aid in faster recovery. 

• Hydration

Diarrhoea impacts the functioning of your small intestine and colon. As a result, these organs do not absorb the minerals, fluids, and nutrients. The alteration in your body mechanism may lead to dehydration. Therefore, you must consume more liquids to maintain your hydration levels. In addition to plain water, you may drink fruit juices and soups. Soups can quickly replenish the sodium requirements of your body; whereas, fruit juices can fulfil the potassium needs. 

• Eat carbs

Try to eat simple carbohydrates in smaller quantities. For example, you may eat a small bowl of white rice and pasta to provide fluid to your body. In addition, carbs are easily digestible and nourish your intestines. 

• Avoid spicy foods 

If you do not avoid eating rich and spicy food during diarrhoea, you may experience watery stool for a longer duration. 

You can easily manage diarrhoea in its early stages by changing your eating habits. Moreover, over-the-counter medications can also control the symptoms and avoid the worsening of your situation. The medicines for diarrhoea can effectively reduce bowel movement frequency. 

Does stress cause diarrhea? If you still want to contemplate, you can ask an expert at Ujala Cygnus Central Hospital. 

Tips to manage stress

If you have chronic stress, it can hamper your health in the long run. However, you can effectively manage stress by adopting stress management techniques and building resilience. 

Few steps to control high-stress levels include:

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• Identifying stress triggers

You can maintain a stress journal to note the situations that cause stress. Moreover, you can record your reactions to such conditions. If you know the stress triggers beforehand, you can control a problem efficiently. In addition, you may take small steps to manage your stress levels. 

• Controlling stress triggers

If you know which factors give you stress, you can manage those triggers calmly. If you feel under pressure, you may release your worries by following breathing techniques or slow counting. Moreover, focusing on your breath can avoid distractions. 

• Following different activities to reduce stress

Try to follow simple activities to control stress. For example, you may take a hot shower to relax your strained muscles. Moreover, you may spend some time amid nature to relax your body. Finally, try fun activities to distract your mind from worries. 

• Maintaining a healthy and blissful lifestyle.

Stress and diarrhea are linked, and both hamper your health. Step away from your sedentary lifestyle and follow a healthy one. A healthy lifestyle includes eating healthfully, providing enough sleep to your body, and exercising daily. 

• Staying away from quick fixes

Try not to mask your symptoms by indulging in alcohol, tobacco, and other intoxicating substances. These substances may provide relief in the short term but adversely affect your health. Moreover, staying away from alcohol can also treat diarrhea, especially diarrhea from stress. 

• Seeking support from personal connections. 

Take the help of your partner, friends, and family members to fight stress. You can openly discuss your concerns with them. Sharing your emotions helps you deal better with stressful situations. 

If you have severe muscle cramps along with diarrhoea, you must visit a specialist. Moreover, record the symptoms and duration for a thorough checkup. To get answers to can stress cause diarrhea, you can contact Ujala Cygnus Central Hospital. 

For free teleconsultation with our doctor, call us at 88569-88569 or fill the form to share your problem.