Feeling anxious and can’t seem to leave the bathroom?
Nervous poops may be a frustrating phenomenon, but they’re totally normal.
This is because when the stakes are high, the brain knows itand so does the gut.
Adobe Stock / shawlin
“For proper digestion, our bodies need to be in a state of rest and relaxation.”
Here, expert-backed strategies to help your GI tract become a stress-poop-free zone.
Whereas the sympathetic nervous system elicits the fight-or-flight response, theparasympathetic nervous systemquite literally helps you rest and digest.
If you’re not one for sitting still,try a walking meditationto help with mindfulness and stress reduction.
“Too often our meal times are spent dealing with other factors,” says Tourgeman.
“Use these in the moment to help calm an anxious stomach.”
What usually takes your mind off things?
Thinking back to other stressful times, what were the soothing activities that helped you see them through?
“Stress pooping is quite common,” says Nazareth.
