Anyone only poop with anxiety/stress triggers?
Just want to start by saying I have been dealing with constipation on and off since I was about 7. I am a 32 year old male. I noticed it has gotten significantly worse since maybe 2022. It has gotten to the point where I can't remember the last time i've had a natural, organic bowel movement. I never feel like I ever have to poop. All bowel movements that I have had the past few years have been induced by social anxiety. This anxiety trigger I feel like has always existed for me for as long as I can remember. When I know I will be involved in an uncomfortable social situation (typically involving women or really just talking with people i'm not familiar with in a group setting), I feel my stool make a pretty big rush to the exit, forcing me to go to the bathroom really quickly. It is like a pressure release valve opening. That is the only time I feel that urge. These bowel movements typically empty me out, and they are perfectly formed logs. Also, it is always a messy wipe when i'm done. Sometimes they come out VERY long. You would think that is great, sure, but I am at the point where I will only have a bowel movement when I have this anxiety trigger. I think having this happen so much in my life trained my muscles or whatever the wrong way to evacuate stool, and it solely relies on that anxiety trigger. I can kind of force this trigger by using dating apps and get anxiety releases from that. I hate living like this though, sometimes relying on tricking my trigger to empty my bowels is not a way to live.
Miralax, laxatives, and milk of magnesia have no effect on me anymore, other than making my farts rancid. I typically fart anyway, and some days they are awful. I've tried saline enemas but I never feel like it really empties me out. Only a little bit of stool ever comes out from saline enemas. Tried Glycerin enemas the past couple of weeks. Sometimes I get about 3 cigars out of me, other times nearly nothing. I have tried a high fiber diet, low FODMAP diet, and increased water intake. Didn't work either. One thing that used to work without fail was a 10oz bottle of liquid Magnesium Citrate. I drank the whole thing earlier this year, and nothing happened for a good day an a half. I think I went a little bit almost 2 days after taking it, but I can't say it was because of the Citrate. I have taken Magnesium Citrate pills at night for a few weeks, nothing happens. I try to go to the gym 2-3 times a week and run a couple of miles 2-3 times a week, so I am a little bit active in my life. My current daily regimen that I have been doing for the past couple of weeks is the Keto diet, nearly 60oz water daily, Psyllium husk pill in the morning, Magnesium Oxide pill + Ginger tea at night, TENS machine on foot/ankle for 30 minutes, and I still gym 3 times a week with stretching almost daily. Still to Glycerin enemas every other day with same results I listed above.
I have had both an Anal Manometry and a Defecogram test done a little over a year ago. The Anal Manometry test detailed that my anal pressure at rest was high with hypocontraction. I was not able to expel the balloon. The Defecogram results were consistent with the results from the Manometry test: anal sphincter has diminished relaxation with incomplete emptying of the rectal vault. There is diminished relaxation of the puborectalis which may be in keeping with pelvic dyssynergia.
The results of those tests prompted my Gastro doctor to forward me to a Pelvic Floor therapist. She introduced me to stretches that I have incorporated into my daily routine. She also instructed me to sit on the toilet the same day everyday in hopes it will retrain my body to poop at that time. One thing to note about that: there are times where I do poop when sitting on the toilet in the morning even if I don't really feel like it, but it is usually a very small amount, like a marble or two. Also taught me abdomen massage techniques to hopefully move stool along the intestinal tract. None of this has seen any results. I have heard of Biofeedback therapy but haven't tried it yet because my insurance won't cover it. I might do it if it will actually help me though because this has seriously been ruining my life for many years now.
Now that I have regaled you all with my horrid life story, I guess my question is: what should I do next? Anyone else in the same boat as me where you only poop from an anxiety release?
Posted Feb 23, 2026, 6:01 AM UTC