I'm learning how the stress response readies us for flight or fight. Ok , here's my question. How in the world does having an ibs attack ready you for fighting or fleeing? The blood reroutes to the arms and legs and tightens the abs. You are in a hightened state ready for the emergency. Oops! Hey killer standing there with the knife, wait a minute while I sit on the toilet! Oh mountain lion, stop the attack I have find a bush. Or do we scare away the attacker while running and leaving behind the evidence of our stress response! Is it that we are emptying our bodies so there is nothing there to take up energy? Ok. I know this probably doesnt' make a whole lot of sense. As you can see, its just one of those things I am still dealing with. I'm a lot better so I know I will continue to get even better but when it happens it just reminds me I have farther to go. Thats ok-just my impatience showing thru. Just venting. Take care, Reena

Just taking a guess here but I believe IBS is from prolonged stress and constant "irritation" of the bowels. The blood is rerouted away from the gut initially in an emergency (flight or fight)which is to say it shuts down for a time then when the system starts up again, it has to get cranked back up and back in rhythm. Interruption of the rhythm time after time causes the irritation and sets up a disfunctional rythm hence diarrhea. Ok, there's my 2 cents.

Dear Reena,

In addition to Baked Pears GREAT answer, it is therorized that evacuating the lower bowel (I cleaned that up pretty good didn't I? ) helped the caveman run faster... no joke. Personally I think that it probably has more to do with chemicals released...but hey, I'm not an anthropologist...

Speed to you, Carolyn

Thanks for the replys. This is a lovely topic to talk about, but its a symptom just like the rest of them. I am just thankful I live in a day and age that we can be helped thru this. With all the communications these days it is a good time to be here. Thanks.