Anxiety causing digestive problems?

I am a 23 year old woman still in school full time and working part time in my dedicated field of study; ever since I was a child I have had problems with my bowel movements.
In the mornings I feel the urge to have a bowel movement but when I try to use washroom at home nothing comes out and ss soon as I get to work or school I have to go. I have to been to doctor many times about this and they never have a diagnosis for this problem. I tested for Celiac disease and I did not have it and the doctors told me it could be IBS and they recommended me to the colon doctor which I am still waititng for the call to see him/her. I have also being diagnosed with overactive bladder as well.

This problem is very embarrasing and uncomfortable, it keeps me from missing lectures at school or meetings at work.


As a teenager I suffered from depression and anxiety and as I got older it went away with no medications. Could this problem be because of anxiety?

[bradyman7]

yes.
anxiety can do almost anything to your body.
dont stress.

[anonymous680]

Eat more fiber, and take a probiotic supplement (such as a good quality Acidophilus supplement), and buy yogurts with live cultures from your local health food store. Nothing has helped me more with digestion than this combo. Sure, anxiety can make it worse, but who's to say the gastro symptoms aren't causing anxiety too?

If you feel anxious on a daily basis, I'm sure anxiety is part of the cause. Do you eat a well-balanced natural diet and stay away from processed foods? If not, you may give this a try. A good diet can do a lot for your bowel movements. MDs usually don't know much about diet, so it may be better to find an alternative doctor that understands diet (particularly one who takes a holistic approach).

[LBG2009]

Thank you all for the information!

I will try the probitic supplements and the yogurts from the health food store, right now I am taking Metamucil (which works excellent) but I am scared that it will have bad side effects in the future. I took probiotics for a while but with the busy lifestyle I live, I do sometimes forget to take them. I don't eat a lot of processed foods but when I do I feel sick to my stomach.

One thing I will definately try is the holistic approach. I hear that is the best thing to do.