JAKARTA - Have you ever felt anxious before an important moment, and suddenly you often go back and forth to the bathroom? Calm down, you're not alone. This phenomenon has a special term, stress pooling, which is defecation triggered by anxiety.
"Stress pooling is basically an anxiety-triggered defecation. It's as if stress alone isn't enough, some people have to face discomfort and urge to defecate at unwanted times," said Isaac Tourgeman, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and assistant professor of psychology at Albizu University, Florida, quoted from the Eating Well page.
However, this is actually normal. When we face an important situation, the brain realizes it and so does the intestine.
When anxiety increases, or even when anticipating tense situations, the sympathetic nervous system will activate. The body then releases hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and serotonin. These hormones signal the organs to prepare, including through the vagus nerve that connects the brain to the intestines.
One of the body's preparations to face threats is to throw away things that are considered burdensome, including digestive waste. That's why the muscles in the digestive tract can contract. This triggers diarrhea or sudden urge to defecate.
The problem is, this brain and intestinal relationship can create a bad circle. Stress triggers digestive disorders, then the gut sends a return signal to the brain which actually adds to anxiety.
If it lasts a long time, stress can also disrupt the balance of good bacteria in the intestines (microbioma), which ultimately affects brain function and exacerbates anxiety.
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The good news is, there are many ways to prevent the nervous system from taking over the bathroom schedule. The point is to keep calm. Here are tips from experts.
1. Take your breath slowly
Breathe slowly through the nose, take a longer breath. This technique activates the parasymptical nervous system, which helps the body enter rest and digest mode, aka rest and digest. It can be done when anxiety starts to rise, or regularly before an important event.
2. Set Eating Patterns Before Big Events
The day before, avoid foods that trigger defecated such as milk, spicy foods, fatty foods, fried, coffee, and alcohol. Choose small portions but often to avoid oversimulation in the intestines.
3. Eat with Mindful
Create a calm atmosphere when eating. Kuyah slowly, enjoy the taste of food, and avoid doing other stressful activities while eating.
4. Ready Peppermint
The peppermint tea, natural peppermint candy, or diluted peppermint oil can help calm the restless stomach.
5. Light the Schedule
Reduce strenuous activity ahead of important moments. Take time for calming things such as reading, leisurely walks, or watching favorite movies.
6. Age or voice
vagus nerve can be trained by gargling 1.2 times a day, praying, singing, and singing voice. This helps the nervous system more easily return to calm mode.
7. Set the defecation time
Get used to defecating before an important event, similar to what athletes did before the match. This reduces the risk of wanting to defecate in the middle of the event.
Immediately consult a doctor if a defecation due to stress occurs very often, appearing in the middle of the night, accompanied by blood, fever, or pain.
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