Psychosomatic diarrhea

The gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract) is particularly sensitive to the patient’s psychological problems. If a patient suffers from severe stress, a part of the so-called autonomous nervous system is particularly strongly activated. This part of the autonomic nervous system is called the sympathetic nervous system.

This ensures that the gastrointestinal tract becomes active and digests food faster. In stressful situations, this can lead to patients suffering more quickly from diarrhea. Since this diarrhoea has no organic causes whatsoever, such as eating rotten food, it is called psychosomatic diarrhoea.

If a patient suffers particularly frequently from psychosomatic diarrhoea, it may be that irritable bowel syndrome is to blame. In general, however, psychosomatic diarrhea can occur not only in stressful situations. Depression, anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorders can also lead to disturbed digestion.

It is important to differentiate precisely between organically caused diarrhoea and psychosomatic diarrhoea. If blood deposits or mucus are added to the diarrhea or if the patient feels that he or she can no longer keep any food at all, he or she should urgently visit a hospital and not dismiss the symptoms as psychosomatically caused. In general, it is also very important to keep in mind the exact definition of diarrhea.

Diarrhea is defined by the fact that the patient has to go to the toilet more than 3 times a day and that the bowel movements are very fluid. A psychosomatic diarrhea, on the other hand, is often accompanied by an increased frequency of bowel movements, but usually only 2-3 times a day and only for a short period of time. As long as the patient pays attention to a balanced diet and sufficient fluid intake and the bowel movement does not become bloody or persist, the patient usually has nothing to fear. Nevertheless, the basic problem, i.e. depression or anxiety disorder, should be treated, otherwise the diarrhea cannot get any better and will always occur in situations of increased stress.