AnxietyGuy

Yes, since I have gotten a new job when I meet new clients I feel trapped almost at times and when my anxiety and stress acts up at those times I literally feel like I need to go to bathroom as in poop. I will panic and feel like if I don't make it to a toilet I will have an accident. I have never had an accident as of yet. It doesn't always happen. Anyone else experience this as well or can recommend any help for these anxiety panic attacks? Thanks! Also I have been on Clonazepam 1MG and BupropionHCL XL 150 MG for about a good year or more now

Astro

Have you talked to your doctor about this yet?

No experience with this, but I do want to welcome you to SR!

Optimist4ever57

Could possibly be anxiety, as I suffer from it as well. I remember as a young child, if we were going on a school field trip or family trip, most of my time getting ready was spent in the bathroom. As I got older it got better than worse again. In my case, it turned out to be dairy products. Milk in my coffee in the morning and drinking it all day until noon made me a fixture in the work restroom!

Could be a food sensitivity?

ScottFromWI

Anxiety can cause an amazing array of physical symptoms. Having dealt with health anxiety myself for years I can attest that your mind can absolutely cause physical symptoms of all kinds.

There are plenty of meds that can help with anxiety, but therapy and self help is key too. Do you see a therapist/counselor or were your meds prescribed by a GP? In either case, seeing a therapist would be my recommendation. You can see if your meds need changing and also work on strategies to help deal with the causes of the anxiety and panic.

AnxietyGuy

Thanks for all the replies. I haven't spoken to my doctor about it yet. I do take clonazepam and Bupropian currently. I think it seems to happen more when I am close to having a panic attack. For instance when i am with a new client for a few hours it bothers me the whole time and is on my mind that I have to go to bathroom and I feel trapped almost then when I'm done with the client it pretty much goes away. I haven't seen anyone for this or spoken to anyone other than my wife. I probably need to go see a professional sounds like. I have found some things online for breathing techniques and other similar things that do help a bit. Thanks.

Forward12

I for sure use to have a huge crapping in public phobia. Hell I use to try and memorize every gas station in the area that had an outside bathroom in case of an "emergency" it eventually went away on it's own, but hang in there, everyone has to dump in public sometimes

AnxietyGuy

Forward12, how did it go away for you? Was it all a mental thing for you? I know our mind is a powerful thing and can take over our bodies if we let it.

Forward12

It was mental for sure, over time, I just really didn't think about. I eventually just kept telling myself "Everyone else has to do it, and they don't make a big deal out of it, why should I?"

Purpleskye

Oh yes, this is not the first time I've heard of anxiety triggered bowel issues. I mix a little OCD with a little GAD and a touch of IBS, and you have the perfect three letter acronym mashup soup for some extra toilet time. Are you taking any supplements other than the prescription medications? Mind over matter and some nutritional help will usually make a huge difference. It's hard to train your brain at first, but after some practice it will get easier. There's even a three letter word for that -CBT

I feel like a broken record because I talk about multi vitamins in every post, but they're a godsend if you're deficient in anything. Or a b complex. All approved by a doctor first, please! (and if you think you're approaching a situation where it may flare up, a preventative pepto bismol might be alright. Again, ask your doc )

Feel better I struggle with the same sort of bathroom memorization mentioned above, and it's worst before bedtime or before leaving the house. Twenty trips to the bathroom "just in case" or if I've laid awake in bed too long before getting to sleep. CBT helps, but on a stressful time it'll flare right back up again. All mental, but anxiety is a powerful thing.

AnxietyGuy

Thank you for that info! What other supplements do you reccommend? I only take a daily probiotic as i do have mild IBS which doesn't help myself. Stressful situations or when I feel trapped due to social anxiety is when I feel like I have to go to bathroom or get a little upset stomach. It's amazing how our minds can make our stomach turn. It sucks. I have to use mind over matter for sure!

ScottFromWI

For me there were really no supplements that would help - because the physical symptoms did not have a physical source..it was all "mental" as you mention. If your mind is causing the symptoms, that's generally where you need to "supplement" through therapy, perhaps even psychoactive meds if a therpist feels they are necessary. Meditation, mindfulness and time has done wonders for me in this area.

It also really helps me to accept/recognize my symptoms for what they are. For example, when I'm in a situation where I used to get very panicky ( like a supermarket line or waiting at busy intersection ) I remind myself that the worst never happens and that it's perfect normal to feel anxious. Those of us who suffer anxiety react in a much more exaggerated fashion, but it's still just a reaction. Once I was able to start telling myself that in the moment it helps to keep things from spirialling out of control. It absolutely takes practice though.

Cleansing

I heard about anxiety creating an urgency to urinate, but haven't heard anything about bowel movements.

Needless to say, similar things happened to me OP. It was due to my abuse of coffee and eating too much dairy. I can handle yogurt, but not milk or cheese. Caffeine does all kinds of things to me.

Your psych doctor and specialist for your IBS should know more. Hope you're feeling better lately.

Rob32u

Have you tried dicyclomine? That's for IBS and it calms your bowel muscles.