bowel changes due to anxiety - Anxiety Message Board

gorolltide · 10-21-2004, 11:48 PM

has anyone noticed bowel changes with their anxiety. i am suffering from alot of diarreah lately due to what i think is my anxiety..can anxiety due this?

i am taking lexapro for my anxiety as well? could this have an effect on it? thanks for all input.

thelxepeia · 10-22-2004, 04:53 AM

Yes, anxiety can cause diarrhea and stomach aches, it does for me... I actually found I can control it (depending on how bad it is/the circumstances), just try not to think about the stomach ache or how bad it may turn out to be, distract yourself, put on a movie, something that will catch you attention quick.. I know it sounds incredibly stupid, but this works for me because when it all comes down to it, most of it is in my head.

jedoz · 10-22-2004, 07:20 AM

I have stomache issues too when my anxiety flares up. Mine gets so bad that it makes noises out loud luckily it almost sound like hunger so if anyone at work hears it I just say I'm hungry. That goes along with my trying to hide the fact that I'm freaking. I haven't tried any meds other than Xanax this time, I tried Wellbutrin to quit smoking for a about a week and it made me feel worse, I don't know whether or not Lexapro effects the stomache but Anxiety does big time. I'm sorta hanging by a thread myself but this board makes me a feel a lot better.Hang in there!

lexdc1 · 10-22-2004, 07:24 AM

As soon as I get anxious, the bowel changes are there. My anxiety comes and goes, but diarrhea is always there when I'm anxious. Don't worry to much about it, and try to cut back on things like coffee that can irritate your tummy.

kingam · 10-22-2004, 09:46 AM

i developed irritable bowel syndrome when i had anxiety about getting cancer... of course i thought it WAS cancer, but irritable bowel, or stomach irritation and anxiety is quite common..