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Why do anxious feelings create the need to go to toilet frequently?

193 Answers
Last Updated: 02/19/2022 at 2:01pm
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Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
April 5th, 2018 3:38pm
from my personal experience going through answers feelings that causes me to go to the bathroom is simply because it is a lot to endure when you are still delicate and fresh from a situation you just barely got over as you are trying to move on with life
Profile: AnimalOfFood
AnimalOfFood
May 21st, 2016 9:10pm
Excitement probably, your body releasing fluid to deal with the feeling. Quite a few people can relate to what you mean by this and wonder too.
Profile: Link22
Link22
May 20th, 2016 9:27pm
Maybe because when you are anxious. You tense up your mucles. And your bladder is a mucle. So that may make you have to go to the rest room more frequently.
Profile: SUNSETOFHAPPINESS
SUNSETOFHAPPINESS
June 2nd, 2016 6:01am
nervous or anxious can make you need to go to the bathroom frequently because the nervousness can make your stomach turn or hurt. When I get nervous or am excited or scared about being in public places, I tend to have to look for the nearest restroom.
Profile: michelle2000
michelle2000
August 8th, 2016 12:51am
Your anxiety may be fooling your brain into thinking that you need to use the restroom but perhaps in reality your body uses the bathroom as a place to hide your anxiety and relax for a few minutes. Just being in the bathroom may calm your brain and help stop your anxiety temporarily.
Profile: ElaineSaysHello
ElaineSaysHello
July 12th, 2018 2:50am
Perhaps these feelings are physiologically correlated to paranoia and activating something in our bodies to make our bladder go haywire, which forces us to use the restroom frequently. But then again, I would consult a licensed professional about these matters. Sometimes it doesn't even have to involve anxiety, but a urinary system issue which is a completely different case.
Profile: PeacefulKnight4u
PeacefulKnight4u
March 18th, 2016 5:02pm
Brain has a way of reacting to stress. Our body is controlled by the mind which in turn is governed by our emotions. So when you are stressed you get anxious. Being anxious puts a lot of pressure on the brain which leads to stress on the organs. So is panic attacks manifested in different ways like racing heart or visiting toilet, feeling light headed, shivering, loss of voice, fainting etc.. Basically the brain gives up due to stress and so the other organs try to relieve you of the stress in the way they function.
Anonymous
April 10th, 2016 9:56am
Panicking and having fears make us feel the need to go to the bathroom more frequently because the anxiety that we're feeling puts stress on our bodies as well. Stay calm and keep yourself healthy.
Profile: StormyAngles18
StormyAngles18
June 5th, 2016 2:35am
Being anxious alone affects all parts of the body. Your body responds to different moods. So it is normal to have to "go" or feel sick if you are anxious, sometimes meditation, or reading, or spending time with family or pets can lower the anxiety levels and may reduce the amount of times needed to use the restroom.
Profile: Belbelbel
Belbelbel
June 11th, 2016 1:49pm
When you feel scared, your body activates your stress response/fight or flight response. This response sends signals to different places in your body and one of those signals is about getting rid of bodily waste as quickly as possible - so you don't have to deal with it when your fleeing/fighting. That's why anxiety can make you need to visit the toilet more often.
Anonymous
May 20th, 2016 9:34am
Fear is what makes you want to go to the toilet frequently. Because scientifically speaking as simple as possible the adrenal glands secretae adrenaline when you are scared and the adrenal prepare the body to act in an emergency and the sphincter in the bladder opens up when you're in extreme fear beucase of adrenaline. So anxious feelings have some impact on your kind like fear so that's what happens.
Profile: savingimage
savingimage
January 23rd, 2019 5:29am
Anxiety/anxious feelings cause the need to go to the toilet frequently mainly because of the fight or flight system. The fight or flight system, if you don't know what it is, is a system wired in our brains that helps us decide whether to flee from a dangerous situation, or to stand our ground. It pumps adrenaline into our bodies and is meant to protect us from harm, but anxiety often forces this system into continue use. Because of this, the system creates a large amount of stress and tension in our bodies. This can put pressure on our internal organs which makes us feel as if we need to use the bathroom, or even cause us to go because of the pressure being put on our bladder. Anxiety can also cause our stomachs to turn or hurt, which may result in some bowel movement or nausea.
Profile: bokchoi
bokchoi
September 3rd, 2016 12:27pm
When you're anxious, that's your body going into flight or fight response. Motor functions are prioritised over things like digestion and bladder control, which is why you might feel shaky and need to pee.
Anonymous
September 10th, 2016 7:45am
Anxiety puts a stress on our bodies. Sometimes this can make muscles scrunch up, thus squeezing whatever is inside us out.
Profile: ffmedic
ffmedic
September 14th, 2016 9:40am
Have you ever seen a dog, especially an indoor dog get anxious when someone comes to their house and they pee right on the carpet even though they're potty trained? Its kind of like that. Your nervous system is linked to all parts of your body even the bladder. When my parents separated, I didn't know I was having a rough time with it until I had to go to the doctor because I thought I was diabetic. I was peeing nearly ever half hour when I went to visit my mother. At home with my father and grandmother I had no problems. I linked it to soley when I went to my mother's and I had to go see a counselor. She told me that when you have anxieties and fear it can make a person have to pee a lot and frequently. I had to start doing things to help relieve my anxieties before I was able to get back to a normal urinating schedule over there. It didn't matter for long, my folks got back together and I didn't have that worry. But this is a pesky problem that can also develop in your bowels. If you are having trouble, or are concerned see a therapist or a doctor or talk to someone you trust about it. Even talking can make a person feel better. Don't be shamed over this. Its a normal occurrence.
Anonymous
September 28th, 2016 7:06am
Because it's your nerves. That your body reaction so mostly likely you'll make a few trips okay????
Anonymous
October 13th, 2016 12:53am
Yes, our anxiety affects our bodies in many different ways, creating many uncomfortable symptoms such as frequent urinating
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2019 11:21am
When you are in bathroom, you feel safer because you know no one is going to come in. You don't have to worry about things around you in a small room like a bathroom. That feeling of safety eases your anxious feelings. Also, when you feel anxious, you often don't know what to do, but going to the toilet gives you a purpose. You know what to do, so you can focus on one thing and not think about other things. For me, peeing feels like letting toxic things out of my body. It makes me feel relieved in some way.
Anonymous
February 16th, 2017 12:28am
Being nervous or anxious can make you need to go to the bathroom frequently because the nervousness can make your stomach turn or hurt. When I get nervous or am excited or scared about being in public places, I tend to have to look for the nearest restroom.
Profile: MishaTheOnion
MishaTheOnion
March 8th, 2017 7:56am
I am not a doctor. But a guess is that anxiousness (stress) have a correlation to increase in stress hormones. They work in way that prepares the body for fight or flight situation. One of the parameters these hormones affects is the increase in waste secretion (the more energy the body uses during stress, the more by-product needed to be removed). Thus the frequent visit to the toilet
Profile: caringFriend21
caringFriend21
August 15th, 2018 3:17am
Scientifically, your body produces hormones that want to speed up the process of digesting. This means that your body is on hyper speed because your neurons and hormones as well as your heart are moving faster than normal.
Profile: iamhereforuss
iamhereforuss
February 4th, 2022 12:11pm
Diarrhea, along with other digestive problems that often accompany anxiety, can happen because of the connection between your gut and your brain, known as the gut-brain axis. The axis connects your central nervous system to your enteric nervous system (ENS), which acts as your gut’s nervous system. The ENS helps regulate processes in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But it also has an effect on your emotions and behavior through its link to your brain. When you’re distressed, chemical messengers carry signals from your brain to your gut. Your gut sometimes responds to these signals with physical symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, or constipation. This link works both ways. If you have digestive issues or other GI problems, you might experience psychological symptoms. And having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or related conditions is linked to an increased risk for anxiety and other mood symptoms.
Profile: wishingstar8520
wishingstar8520
May 13th, 2018 2:06pm
Anxiety leads to a constant battle with disturbing thoughts and ideas. To get through the phase, individual indulge in behaviors which aid in controlling those thoughts and ideas. Thus, certain common behaviors are biting nails, fidgeting, going to toilet. It is a way to train the brain to let go the anxious feelings.
Profile: ConnerAlexzander
ConnerAlexzander
February 15th, 2018 6:36pm
When your brain feels scared, it will try to find a way out of whatever situationit is scared of, and what is the easiest escape? The restroom. Your brain will tell your body it needs to use the toilet, and trick you into thinking you really have to.
Profile: Bluelight33
Bluelight33
July 25th, 2018 11:13am
Hm I often heared that anxiety can maybe affect the work of the concerned organs generally. But I could imagine that someone goes to toilet cos it is a lockable room and you feel "saver" somehow. Or if the feelings go together with flashbacks and the person is somethere outside she/he want to hide the flash and be alone and undisturbed until stabilized again.
Profile: Kittmousie
Kittmousie
October 27th, 2017 4:26pm
I get that feeling quite often at work. I feel as though it is in large part because I want to be alone for a minute or two. It also creates a sense of immediate relief. I've never let the fact that I go to the bathroom a little more often then others get to me. It is what it is and if that is how I need to cope, then I will take those couple minutes to myself.
Profile: BearsBeetsBooks
BearsBeetsBooks
May 4th, 2019 5:54pm
Anxiety creates physical symptoms as well as psychological symptoms. These psychosomatic symptoms can cause bowel irregularities or gastrointestinal issues as well as many other physical symptoms, such as headaches, heart racing, chest pain, shaking, dizziness, nausea, and more. Your gastrointestinal system has a nervous system all its own. When anxiety puts you into fight or flight mode, stress hormones are released. These stress hormones have an effect on that nervous system which may cause you need to need the bathroom more frequently. Another possibility is that you're experiencing IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that causes an array of symptoms, such as stomach bloating, abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, and constipation. If you're experiencing these symptoms frequently, you may want to check with your doctor about the possibility of having IBS and what you can do to manage the symptoms.
Profile: SoulHealing
SoulHealing
August 18th, 2017 4:33pm
Anxiety is related to the Central Nervous System and everyone has different ways of somatization. Vomiting, going to bathroom frequently and other symptoms are common when you are anxious
Profile: Kalosia
Kalosia
June 26th, 2019 7:32pm
Usually because the mind finds a way to distract itself from feeling it. The mind does not want to deal with it so it finds the toilet as a distraction. It’s like a getaway. There’s nothing wrong with it. The mind is powerful but when you are going through something the mind scares you from feeling better. It thinks it’s a horrible thing to get better. In reality it’s the most beautiful thing to heal. You also get distracted by movies and games just so you can avoid facing your anxiety. It’s just part of growing up. You will learn to deal with it without distractions.
Profile: NamasteRiver
NamasteRiver
May 4th, 2016 6:38am
Anxiety is linked to several parts of the brain and the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. When our anxiety is triggered our bodies go into fight or flight mode which initiates some changes in the body for example heart beats faster to enable more blood to get to your muscles that you might be using to run! Part of this fight or flight response is that the brain tells the body to get rid off anything unnesseccary in order to be lighter in case of fighting or flight. There is a lot more information about this on the internet if you Google anxiety and fight or flight response. I Hope that helps!