This Body Part Explains Why Being Nervous Makes People Poop

Nerve-wracking situations like heading into a job interview or giving a presentation at work or school can cause a wide range of physical symptoms. Maybe your knees get weak or your palms get sweaty. You might get butterflies in your stomach. Or maybe you suddenly need to poop. People sometimes have to poop when they get nervous because of chemicals released by a single body part: the adrenal glands.

The adrenal glands are a key part of the endocrine system, a collection of organs that produce hormones that control the body's different functions. Sitting on top of your kidneys, your adrenal glands release substances like serotonin, cortisol, and adrenaline. When you experience a stressful situation, a small area of your brain called the hypothalamus sends a signal to the adrenal glands to start releasing hormones. This is part of the so-called fight or flight response and these hormones prepare the body for action by raising heart rate and blood pressure, increasing alertness, and giving you a surge of energy.

Cortisol and adrenaline are well known as being stress hormones. However, serotonin released by the adrenal glands plays a large part in having to poop when nervous. The intestines are home to a large number of serotonin receptors. Serotonin is involved in peristalsis, the reflex in which involuntary muscle contractions move food through your digestive system. The rapid increase in serotonin seen during a stressful situation can sometimes cause spasms in the colon. These spasms can make you feel like you suddenly need to go.

These reactions demonstrate just how linked the digestive system and brain are. In fact, the human gut is home to something called the enteric nervous system. This is a complex neural network of more than 500 million neurons. With more nerve cells than anywhere else in the body outside of the brain, the enteric nervous system is thought to interact with the brain to influence digestion, stress levels, and food cravings and may play a role in what is sometimes called gut feelings. When under stress the brain sends signals through the vagus nerve to the enteric nervous system. These signals, combined with hormones released by the endocrine system, may contribute to the sudden need to poop. However, many times the urge to go happens after the stressful situation is over and your brain signals that it's now okay to relax.

While it can be inconvenient, occasionally needing to go when feeling stressed is a normal human reaction. It's recommended that if you feel the urge to go, and it's at all possible to visit a bathroom, to do so. Retaining stool can lead to problems like constipation and bloating. However, there are some things people can do to make nervous poops less likely.

What you eat and how you eat can significantly effect how your gut works. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, probiotic-rich foods like Greek yogurt, and fermented foods like sauerkraut have been shown to help with digestion. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods can sometimes improve gut function. Slowing down at meal times and not eating too fast can help as well. Exercise is also beneficial for digestion and can help you deal with daily stressors. In addition to diet and exercise, methods for controlling stress and anxiety like journaling, mindfulness meditation, and avoiding stressful situations when possible are beneficial.

Sudden changes in your bowel habits, unexpected weight loss, or unusual colors in your stool are important health warnings that you should talk to your doctor about. Symptoms like these could indicate a serious health problem. However, the occasional need to poop during or right after a stressful situation is a normal part of being human.