Diarrhea

What it is

Loose, watery, or more frequent bowel movements than usual, which may be acute or chronic and reflect digestive infection, intolerance, or nervous system activation.

Commonly experienced as

• People describe urgent, sometimes uncontrollable urges to rush to the toilet, often with cramping beforehand and a sense of relief after. Many report anticipatory anxiety in situations far from a bathroom. Stress-related diarrhoea frequently coincides with exams, presentations, travel, or confrontational situations. Those with IBS often experience diarrhoea alternating with constipation, and notice a clear relationship between emotional state and bowel urgency.