Just wondering?

Hi eric. First of all, ideally one should feel better when they are relaxed, of course. If one is emotionally tense as when one is stressed or anxious, then often times this means muscles will go into tensed state too. This action could lead to prolonged constriction which would result in a lack oxygenation to the tissues which may result in pain. In some cases, spasming could occur which may also lead to pain. Happiness would probably induce a release of endomorphines which may help in relieving pain.Not only do we tense up our striated muscles, but I think that there is the fight vs. flight response in the autonomic nervous system that can be affected as well. Not all our systems are the same, so some may feel the need to, for example, go to the bathroom, and some may respond by shutting down the need to go to the bathroom. Some may notice that their pain is intensified. Perhaps some will be so focused on the stressor, that the pain they previously had, may be forgotten for the moment. If I have pain already, mine is intensified by stress. When I am nervious, I seem to feel the need to urinate more, but tend to become more constipated. Go figure!I noticed the other evening when we went out to eat with a few other couples, that I was fine, but did feel the need to get up and walk, so the food wouldn't just sit there. However, we went outside for a walk and then stood around and talked for awhile outside. It was a cool evening and I was shivering the whole time. My abdomen really felt full standing there, and I experienced some discomfort when I got home. I believe the shivering caused my abdominal muscles to tense up and also not allow me to digest my food properly afterward. Fortunately, I did not have any stooling effects. I had tried to be careful in what I ate, but I had fish that was stuffed with a homemade crab stuffing, so who knows what was in there. So, I guess what I am saying is that physical tension does bring on some IBS symptoms for me. However, I have not noticed that emotional tension by itself, without the physical response of tightening my abdominal muscles has brought about my IBS symptoms. This is why I think that the slow abdominal breathing is important if one begins to notice the physical tensioning of the abdominal muscles.

Hi eric. First of all, ideally one should feel better when they are relaxed, of course. If one is emotionally tense as when one is stressed or anxious, then often times this means muscles will go into tensed state too. This action could lead to prolonged constriction which would result in a lack oxygenation to the tissues which may result in pain. In some cases, spasming could occur which may also lead to pain. Happiness would probably induce a release of endomorphines which may help in relieving pain.Not only do we tense up our striated muscles, but I think that there is the fight vs. flight response in the autonomic nervous system that can be affected as well. Not all our systems are the same, so some may feel the need to, for example, go to the bathroom, and some may respond by shutting down the need to go to the bathroom. Some may notice that their pain is intensified. Perhaps some will be so focused on the stressor, that the pain they previously had, may be forgotten for the moment. If I have pain already, mine is intensified by stress. When I am nervious, I seem to feel the need to urinate more, but tend to become more constipated. Go figure!I noticed the other evening when we went out to eat with a few other couples, that I was fine, but did feel the need to get up and walk, so the food wouldn't just sit there. However, we went outside for a walk and then stood around and talked for awhile outside. It was a cool evening and I was shivering the whole time. My abdomen really felt full standing there, and I experienced some discomfort when I got home. I believe the shivering caused my abdominal muscles to tense up and also not allow me to digest my food properly afterward. Fortunately, I did not have any stooling effects. I had tried to be careful in what I ate, but I had fish that was stuffed with a homemade crab stuffing, so who knows what was in there. So, I guess what I am saying is that physical tension does bring on some IBS symptoms for me. However, I have not noticed that emotional tension by itself, without the physical response of tightening my abdominal muscles has brought about my IBS symptoms. This is why I think that the slow abdominal breathing is important if one begins to notice the physical tensioning of the abdominal muscles.