Another primary reason stress leads to digestive issues, including diarrhea, is the gut-brain axis4, which connects to the enteric nervous system. “Our stomach and intestines have their own unique nervous system called the enteric nervous system,” holistic psychologist Nicole Lippman-Barile, Ph.D., tells mbg. “These nerves respond to the same stress hormones and neurotransmitters that our brains do.” When the enteric nervous system absorbs stress hormones, it can affect the speed at which food moves through the digestive tract, resulting in either constipation or diarrhea. This is mostly problematic for people with preexisting gut issues, like leaky gut or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but it does not necessarily lead to chronic digestive problems. With proper stress management, stress-induced diarrhea can generally be managed. Along with promoting healthy digestion, probiotics have also been shown to improve mood and manage symptoms of depression, which may play a role in stress management.*
