Stressful Constipation Causes

On constipation causes, there has been much emphasis on physical problems. An important cause that is often overlooked is our emotions.

During days when the workload is heavy and difficult, rest assured I delay my early morning toilet ritual to late evening. Sometimes, none for very, very stressful days. Yes, like many people out there, work is my number one stress. I do appreciate my sympathetic nervous system for making the intestine contract less when I wake up to unpleasant reality of urgent job appointments. Otherwise, my paymasters would have been very unhappy.

Occasional postponement is tolerable for me, my amazing autonomous nervous system bounces back by the next or next next day.

There was a period of ignorance in which my bowel movements used to be irregular. Since incorporating more relaxation rituals into my lifestyle, I improve to one bowel movement a day. Pampering the parasympathetic nervous system is a cool and enjoyable way to increase peristalsis.

Of course, stress is a part of life. As long as I live, I keep on learning to cope while being thankful that the level of stress in my life ranges only between mild and moderate.

Others, are not so fortunate.

I was thinking about an experience of a woman who became constipated at a time when she was finalizing her divorce. Unfortunately, her doctor was unaware of her domestic problem and prescribed laxatives for relieving constipation when what she really needed was comforting words.

Is this a subconscious defense strategy of the weaker sex?

Extreme Stress

Many women with idiopathic constipation are found to have converted their mental experiences to constipation compared to women with arthritis, according to a psychological test conducted in 1989. The following year, a medical survey reported similar results related to a more drastic constipation causes - sexual and physical abuse.

In this survey, 209 female patients were referred to doctors for " functional gastrointestinal disorders". The doctors found that 44 % of the total number were abused, but only 17 % actually reported what had happened to them.

Yet another survey reported that 40 % of patients suffering from functional disorders of the lower gastrointestinal tract are sexually abused females, which is 4 times greater than patients suffering from upper functional G.I. disorders. The chances of discovering a rape victim is a chilling 9 times greater among patients proven by clinical test to be suffering from anismus - malfunction of external anal sphincter and puborectalis muscle during defecation .

Many victims of sexual abuse experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The body's stress level increases during a traumatic situation such as rape. Normally the stress diminishes after the trauma is over. In the case of PTSD, the body is unable to bounce back from the stress during that particular event. Antidepressants are prescribed - with the side effect of constipation.

The Most Repugnant of all Constipation Causes

A child who was raped would respond similarly, by withholding stools - especially when sodomized.

Proving sexual abuse of a child is a difficult task. It is even more challenging to ascertain whether rape is the cause of constipation in some children, even by doctors. For instance, 15 % of severely constipated children do have exposed anus upon parting of the buttocks, but they are not molested. Even if the anus initially closes and dilates, thought by some people to be the consequence of abuse - other evidences are still needed to confirm this evil.

I would think when loving parents care to take their constipated child to a doctor, it is unlikely that the child is abused. There are many children out there living in horrible conditions in which nobody cares about their physical welfare. These children , even if constipated as a result of sexual abuse, do not get to tell doctors to be included in statistics. Judging from proliferation of child pornography, I believe the number is not as low as assumed.

( Shudder )

De-stress

Biofeedback conditioning alone is not enough to treat anismus of abused patients. They also need psychotherapy. It could take years for the patient to move on and eventually see improvement.

Should we, folks with stress less than extreme, not able to overcome the emotional hurdle for the sake of relieving constipation?

reference sources for stressful constipation causes :

1."Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A developmental approach by Dr Jeremy Turk, Philip Jerema Graham, Frank C. Verhulst

2." Principles and Practice of Surgery for the Colon, Rectum and Anus" by Philip H. gordon, Santhat Nivatvongs

Constipation Causes due to Disease

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