Emotional Build Up Through months and months of emotional disregard, people often develop what some dynamic psychology theorists fondly refer to as “emotional constipation”. This means, we can experience a buildup of unprocessed emotions in our systems that need an outlet.
Emotional constipation is defined as the inability or unwillingness to express one's emotions. It creates the impression of a cold or unfeeling person. Blocked or repressed emotions are associate with physical physical conditions.
Constipation is a prevalent symptom in the psychiatric population, with a reported two-year period prevalence of 36.3% in schizophrenic patients [1] and 57.7% in depressive patients [2]. In addition, an incidence rate of 15 per 100 person-years has been observed in patients with severe mental illness (SMI) [3].
Tenesmus refers to a persistent and painful desire to evacuate the bowel, despite having an empty colon. It often involves cramping, involuntary straining, and the passage of little fecal matter. The sensation is not a condition in itself but a symptom of other health issues that can affect the gastrointestinal system.
Why It's Important. Up to a third of people with depression have chronic constipation, and a few studies report that people with depression rate their accompanying bowel difficulties as one of the biggest factors reducing their quality of life.
Since tryptophan is necessary for your gut to make serotonin, deficiencies can lead to low serotonin levels, as your gut doesn't naturally produce this nutrient on its own. Health problems like leaky gut and imbalances in the microbiome can make it difficult to absorb tryptophan and contribute to low serotonin.
Stress can both delay emptying stomach contents and speed up passage of material through the intestines. This combination of activity leads to abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week. Going longer than 3 or more days without one, though, is usually too long.
Try to sit on the toilet 15 to 20 minutes after breakfast. Do not ignore the call to open your bowels. Putting off the call to go can cause constipation. Try to work with the body's natural rhythm (emptying the bowel first thing in the morning).
Symptoms of constipation include: You have fewer than three bowel movements a week. Your stools are dry, hard and/or lumpy. Your stools are difficult or painful to pass.
A person should talk with their doctor if they go more than a week without pooping, if the constipation lasts for more than 3 consecutive months, or if it does not respond to at-home treatment. Children and pregnant women should receive medical care if they experience bowel symptoms for more than a few weeks.
Stressful events, regardless of the cause, can lead to constipation. This includes physical and emotional stress. Anxiety and physical stress like sleep deprivation can both lead to constipation.
And while most people think of constipation as just an annoying symptom, it can also be the root cause of other symptoms and conditions, including fatigue, weight gain, low mood, and many more.
“It would be an emergency if you hadn't had a bowel movement for a prolonged time, and you're also experiencing major bloating or severe abdominal pain,” notes Dr. Zutshi. Slight symptoms will not take you to the emergency room. You should go to the emergency room if your symptoms are severe.
Fecal impaction often occurs in people who have had constipation for a long time and have been using laxatives. The problem is even more likely when the laxatives are suddenly stopped. The muscles of the intestines forget how to move stool or feces on their own.
The intestines can hold as little as 5 pounds and as much as 25 pounds of waste at any given time, varying greatly depending on your weight and diet. This is because your body is physically unable to completely digest all the foods you consume and some of them can get stuck in the lining of your intestines.
There is evidence suggesting psychological factors play an important role in IBS, this is due to the link that exists between the brain and gut, often called the 'gut-brain connection'. In some people, the gut-brain connection can trigger or worsen symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation and nausea.
The gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to emotion. Anger, anxiety, sadness, elation — all of these feelings (and others) can trigger symptoms in the gut. The brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines. For example, the very thought of eating can release the stomach's juices before food gets there.