Have you ever felt an urgent desire to go to the bathroom just before an important interview, an exam or a public speaking? Rest assured, you are not alone. This reaction is actually a well -known phenomenon of medicine, and it is explained by several physiological mechanisms activated in stress. Dr. Gérald Kierzek helps us understand this close link between stress and our intestinal transit.
Active stress The sympathetic nervous system
When you are stressed, your body instinctively prepares to face a danger – “This is called the” flight or combat “answer” evokes the emergency artist … This mechanism, orchestrated by the sympathetic nervous system, leads to a series of rapid reactions to mobilize the necessary energy. Result: some bodily functions accelerate … including intestinal transit.
“This acceleration can cause what is called motor diarrhea, or a sudden and uncontrollable desire to go to the toilet.”
Adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones, also responsible
Stress also triggers the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These chemical messengers increase vigilance, boost energy resources, but also disrupt digestion.
“These hormones can stimulate the contractions of the intestine (peristalism), which advances the stools towards the exit more quickly. This can cause spasms, bloating or urgent defecation.“”
The intestine-end axis: a permanent dialogue
The intestine is often nicknamed our “second brain”. And it is not just an image: it has its own nervous system, the enteric nervous system, in constant connection with our brain via the intestine-end axis.
“In a stressful situation, this link is manifested by the action of neurotransmitters like serotonin (90 % of which is produced in the intestine!). A variation of these substances can cause digestive disorders: cramps, gas, pressing need … All this without you being sick in the literal sense.”
Muscle tensions and digestive spasms
Stress also causes general muscular tensions in the body … including at the digestive system. These tensions can accentuate sensations of discomfort, gravity or urgent need for evacuation.
An ancestral survival reflex
Finally, from an evolutionary point of view, emptying before a threatening situation could be useful. This made it possible to gain lightness and mobility to flee faster. This archaic reflex could well explain why some of us feel this need for intestinal emptying in situations perceived as stressful, even if the danger is no longer physical.
What to do to limit these reactions?
Fortunately, there are simple solutions to better manage this natural reaction:
- Breathe : Heart consistency (slow and regular breathing) helps calm the nervous system;
- Avoid digestive irritants : Reduce the consumption of coffee, alcohol, spicy foods during stressful periods;
- Move : Physical activity reduces the level of general stress;
- Adopt a balanced and fiber -rich dietand possibly take probiotics to strengthen the intestinal microbiota;
- Work on stress management With meditation, relaxation or behavioral therapy.
What if it becomes chronic?
If these intestinal disorders become frequent, painful or disabling, they can evoke an irritable intestine syndrome (or functional colopathy). In this case, a medical consultation is essential to establish a diagnosis and consider suitable care.
But wanting to go to the bathroom when you are stressed is a natural reaction. Understanding the mechanisms – as Dr. Gérald Kierzek explains to us – allows them to be better anticipated … and not to panic when that happens.