The Surprising Link Between Stress and Constipation

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding the LinkOther Effects of StressTreatmentFinding ReliefWhen to See a Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Understanding the Link

Other Effects of Stress

Treatment

Finding Relief

When to See a Provider

Nearly half of American adults report feeling stressed regularly, and many experience long-term (chronic) stress.Stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, a set of hormonal and physiological changes that protect you from a perceived threat.

When you’re in fight-or-flight mode, your digestion slows, and as a result, you may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such asconstipation.

The link between stress and constipation involves the nervous system and the connection between the brain and body.

Thenervous systemis divided into the following:

When you are stressed, the nervous system is in thefight-or-flightstage. When this occurs, your nervous system decreases or turns off digestion to conserve energy and dedicate its resources to respond to a perceived threat. When stress levels decrease, digestion resumes during rest.

The connection between stress and constipation is complex and involves various factors, including:

Can Stress Exacerbate Other Conditions?

Up to 70 million Americans experience digestive diseases that can worsen with stress. Examples include:

While these conditions typically include symptoms such as diarrhea and digestive discomfort, they can also present with constipation. Stress increases inflammation, disrupts digestion regularity, and changes the balance of hormones, acids, bacteria, and other things that affect digestion.

Commonly Overlooked StressorsBeing around other people who are often stressedCaring for children or others without enough breaksExcessive chores and houseworkHaving unrealistically high expectationsLeaving tasks or responsibilities to the last minuteNot getting enough time away from workOverconsuming stressful news or doomscrolling (spending time online scrolling through distressful content)Ruminating on uncomfortable thoughts without processing themSpending too much time on phones or other devices

Commonly Overlooked Stressors

Being around other people who are often stressedCaring for children or others without enough breaksExcessive chores and houseworkHaving unrealistically high expectationsLeaving tasks or responsibilities to the last minuteNot getting enough time away from workOverconsuming stressful news or doomscrolling (spending time online scrolling through distressful content)Ruminating on uncomfortable thoughts without processing themSpending too much time on phones or other devices

Treatment Starts With Lowering Stress

How to Find Relief

Other ways to relieve constipation include:

Remember that even over-the-counter medications can have risks and side effects, so it is essential to consult a healthcare professional to determine the best treatment. This is especially important if you have other health concerns or take any other medications.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Constipation can lead to severe complications such asrectal prolapseandfecal impaction. It is essential to seek medical care right away if you have blood in your stool, symptoms appear suddenly, or you experience pain.

Children, older adults, and women are at an increased risk of more severe complications. Additionally, it is essential to seek medical care if the constipation lasts longer than a few days.

Summary

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.American Psychological Association.Stress effect on the body.LeBouef T, Yaker Z, Whited L.Physiology, autonomic nervous system. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538516/Schneider KM, Blank N, Alvarez Y, et al.The enteric nervous system relays psychological stress to intestinal inflammation.Cell. 2023;186(13):2823-2838.e20. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.001Russo S, Chan K, Li L, et al.Stress-activated brain-gut circuits disrupt intestinal barrier integrity and social behaviour.Res Sq [Preprint].2023:rs.3.rs-3459170. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3459170/v1.Chaudhry TS, Senapati SG, Gadam S, et al.The impact of microbiota on the gut-brain axis: examining the complex interplay and implications.J Clin Med. 2023;12(16):5231. doi:10.3390/jcm12165231.Ge L, Liu S, Li S, Yang J, Hu G, Xu C, Song W.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: psychoneuroimmunological insights into bidirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022;13:1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Digestive diseases statistics for the United States.Brigham Young University.Stress and the digestive system.Harvard Medical School.8 ways to get constipation relief.Cedars Sinai.When to see a doctor for constipation.

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.American Psychological Association.Stress effect on the body.LeBouef T, Yaker Z, Whited L.Physiology, autonomic nervous system. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538516/Schneider KM, Blank N, Alvarez Y, et al.The enteric nervous system relays psychological stress to intestinal inflammation.Cell. 2023;186(13):2823-2838.e20. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.001Russo S, Chan K, Li L, et al.Stress-activated brain-gut circuits disrupt intestinal barrier integrity and social behaviour.Res Sq [Preprint].2023:rs.3.rs-3459170. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3459170/v1.Chaudhry TS, Senapati SG, Gadam S, et al.The impact of microbiota on the gut-brain axis: examining the complex interplay and implications.J Clin Med. 2023;12(16):5231. doi:10.3390/jcm12165231.Ge L, Liu S, Li S, Yang J, Hu G, Xu C, Song W.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: psychoneuroimmunological insights into bidirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022;13:1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Digestive diseases statistics for the United States.Brigham Young University.Stress and the digestive system.Harvard Medical School.8 ways to get constipation relief.Cedars Sinai.When to see a doctor for constipation.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.American Psychological Association.Stress effect on the body.LeBouef T, Yaker Z, Whited L.Physiology, autonomic nervous system. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538516/Schneider KM, Blank N, Alvarez Y, et al.The enteric nervous system relays psychological stress to intestinal inflammation.Cell. 2023;186(13):2823-2838.e20. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.001Russo S, Chan K, Li L, et al.Stress-activated brain-gut circuits disrupt intestinal barrier integrity and social behaviour.Res Sq [Preprint].2023:rs.3.rs-3459170. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3459170/v1.Chaudhry TS, Senapati SG, Gadam S, et al.The impact of microbiota on the gut-brain axis: examining the complex interplay and implications.J Clin Med. 2023;12(16):5231. doi:10.3390/jcm12165231.Ge L, Liu S, Li S, Yang J, Hu G, Xu C, Song W.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: psychoneuroimmunological insights into bidirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022;13:1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Digestive diseases statistics for the United States.Brigham Young University.Stress and the digestive system.Harvard Medical School.8 ways to get constipation relief.Cedars Sinai.When to see a doctor for constipation.

American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.

Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.

American Psychological Association.Stress effect on the body.

LeBouef T, Yaker Z, Whited L.Physiology, autonomic nervous system. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538516/

Schneider KM, Blank N, Alvarez Y, et al.The enteric nervous system relays psychological stress to intestinal inflammation.Cell. 2023;186(13):2823-2838.e20. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.001

Russo S, Chan K, Li L, et al.Stress-activated brain-gut circuits disrupt intestinal barrier integrity and social behaviour.Res Sq [Preprint].2023:rs.3.rs-3459170. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3459170/v1.

Chaudhry TS, Senapati SG, Gadam S, et al.The impact of microbiota on the gut-brain axis: examining the complex interplay and implications.J Clin Med. 2023;12(16):5231. doi:10.3390/jcm12165231.

Ge L, Liu S, Li S, Yang J, Hu G, Xu C, Song W.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: psychoneuroimmunological insights into bidirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022;13:1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Digestive diseases statistics for the United States.

Brigham Young University.Stress and the digestive system.

Harvard Medical School.8 ways to get constipation relief.

Cedars Sinai.When to see a doctor for constipation.

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