Embarrassing but do any of you get dia... - Living with Anxiety

Living with Anxiety

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Embarrassing but do any of you get diarrhea with anxiety? I rarely get tummy issues but as a hypochondriac, I freak out unwantedly.

mistybrooke84 profile image
22 Replies

I've had a lot of stress on me lately and today especially. I had two panic attacks yesterday and controlled them quite well. It's been a few months since I've had panic attacks but my anticipatory anxiety has not gone. Anywho, I'm a hypochondriac and sometimes worry more than I should over anything abnormal happening with my body. A little while ago, I had bad diarrhea. I panicked on top of it. Thankfully, my mother in law and best friend calmed me down and as I calmed down, my tummy has calmed down. But the diarrhea came two hours after I ate a simple sandwich and I wasn't worrying over things--or so i thought. Do any of you get diarrhea or nausea from anxiety and panic disorder? It triggers my fears of "what ifs" like dehydration and it not stopping and dying, etc. My mind completely goes into catastrophic mode. At least I recognize it I suppose lol. But the panic part, you break out in the clammy sweats as well and start to get jittery. I shouldn't be this way but I am. :( Just looking for reassurance to see if any of you get this with high anxiety or stress.

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mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84
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22 Replies
Bramwell profile image
Bramwell

I know how you feel as I suffer from Health Anxiety very badly and anything can set it off like a bad tummy or even just a headache.

Everyone has a dodgy tummy at times, maybe a bug or something you ate, and that's what you've got to say to yourself.

It's not easy and a lot of the time I too panic at silly things my friends would just ignore like a pain or funny feeling.

kelm123 profile image
kelm123

Yes, absolutely. I lost a ton of weight due to anxiety causing diarrhea. I thought I had cancer...I didn't ;) It can also cause terrible reflux.

Txgirl7_88 profile image
Txgirl7_88 in reply tokelm123

Yes! I've lost lots of weight due to anxiety and I have noticed the reflux can worsen.

mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84 in reply toTxgirl7_88

Poor thing! I hear ya! I've lost weight due to anxiety as well.

mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84 in reply tokelm123

Ugh, I don't need to lose any more weight lol! I'm glad it wasn't cancer though and just the anxiety. Thank you for replying! :)

shoppaholicsue profile image
shoppaholicsue

Remember feeling anxious and nervy over your exams? Butterflies in the tummy, needing the loo more often. That was a symptom of anxiety, and if you are anxious now you often get the above symptoms again

Sue

mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84 in reply toshoppaholicsue

Thank you, Sue. :) I do remember lol. I'm still having tummy issues today but not as bad. I've had bad anxiety lately though so it probably makes sense hehe.

CardiffGirl80 profile image
CardiffGirl80

Weeks ago I was a mess. I had tummy pain and going to the toilet every few minutes. I know it was down to my nerves and worries over a job I have now. I relaxed and it went away!

mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84 in reply toCardiffGirl80

I'm glad it relaxed! And also glad you got the job. :) Thank you for sharing!

Tiffanyy profile image
Tiffanyy

Yes, it I get the poops with my anxiety. Sometimes it passes quite quick and other times its all day. It can be scary because you worry about dehydration but I just make sure I'm drinking water at least and then I know I don't have to worry. Oh, and yes the nausea too, that's very common. I hate it. I hope you're feeling better.

-Tiffany

mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84 in reply toTiffanyy

Lol, the poops. Haha. It hasn't happened since I posted this but i do get the nausea a lot. Thanks Tiffany, yes, I'm feeling better. Thank you! :)

IBTired profile image
IBTired

My IBS causes Anxiety which causes IBS which causes Anxiety which........... ahh the never ending vicious circle lol.

Ive been to CBT, Hypnotherapy and my GP to try and break it but i still haven't achieved it. One thing thats helped though is just talking about it! Travelling at the minute seems to be my biggest problem. As a holiday or work trip approaches the closer it gets, the level of anxiety increases until the day comes to go and I'm a wreck with nerves and IBS.

Im on this today as i have a flight approaching on sunday and my anxiety is starting already lol.

It sounds so simple, break the irrational thoughts and anxiety and be free!

Ginsing profile image
Ginsing

I get anxiety when something unplanned suddenly happens and then I am away with-----sorry cannot think of right word. So will return when it returns :)

Ginsing

Ginsing profile image
Ginsing in reply toGinsing

Got it Irratble bowel syndrome oh this fog is bewildering!!

Keep smiling ir does help

xxGinsing

mistybrooke84 profile image
mistybrooke84 in reply toGinsing

Haha, it's okay! I understand! Thank you, yes, smiling always helps! :)

i get iffy tummy like when ya nervous about something or scare and ya tummy turns .

my hands go clammy ,my heart races,my hand shake , my inside of my body trembles although its not visable on outside but my hands do visabally tremble its crazy i feel like am gonna just die or something i probally sound like a drama queen but am not far from it.

yes makes me feel sick too x

Rosyatthegarden profile image
Rosyatthegarden

Yes, I get almost instant diarrhea, anxiety, panic attack, ibs. Have had stomach issues for several years. I know where every bathroom is when I go somewhere, go into an unfamiliar place the first thing I ask is the location of restroom. The fear of being to far away from a restroom will bring on anxiety then diarrhea. The thought of being on an airplane stuck on the tarmac and restrooms closed instant anxiety then diarrhea.

Thehut profile image
Thehut in reply toRosyatthegarden

Have you been diagnosed? Or do you take anything to help your anxiety? Ive tried to stay away from getting on meds but this is really controlling my life.

parisnotredame profile image
parisnotredame

I know this post is 4 years ago but I just wanted to leave a quick note in the hope it will help anxiety sufferers. I suffered a massive anxiety/panic attack at a restaurant yesterday and still had really high anxiety the whole of this morning. I had diarrhea for a few times within hours. Usually with food poisoning type of diarrhea, I have used clinical strength probiotics and peppermint tea with great success. But this time, nothing worked and I also started feeling nausea, which made me even more anxious and worried about vomitting. That was how I realised the diarrhea must be anxiety-related. I then used a lavender oil and water spray (1:10000) around my head, neck and chest area to see if this would calm my mind down. To my surprise, it worked practically immediately and all my digestive issues stopped. The lavender oil is Lavandula officinalis/Lavandula angustifolia (or L. angustifolia) which I bought in Paris (from a “herboristerie” in the first arrondisement. I cannot believe I feel so well now after what I went through for so many hours. The oil obviously made me stop panicking and worrying about everything and gave me my calm back. I hope this can help other anxiety sufferers.

Bia7 profile image
Bia7

Hi. I am sorry you are feeling this way! I have the same problem. My diarrhea has being going on for five days and today it got worst. I start thinking that this could be a horrible disease and it gets worse.

alexna profile image
alexna

Yeah all the time! I read an article ( mindsethealth.com/learn/ibs... ) that explains it's due to the gut-brain connection and really common.

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