Saed News: You may think avoiding public toilets is just a personal habit, but “parcopresis” or shy bowel syndrome is a fear that prevents a person from defecating in public places. If it continues, it can lead to chronic constipation, digestive problems, and even serious health complications.
According to SAEDNEWS, many people experience anxiety even in the simplest daily activities such as using the toilet. Parcopresis, or defecation anxiety, can threaten both physical and mental health and disrupt daily life. But how does this condition appear?
“Parcopresis,” or shy bowel syndrome, is a condition that makes defecation in public places difficult. It can cause serious physical problems and disrupt daily functioning. People with this condition may avoid using toilets in schools, workplaces, or during travel due to fear of being judged. This anxiety may lead to symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, heavy sweating, nausea, trembling, and difficulty passing stool.
Studies show that defecation anxiety is more common than expected. A study of 714 university students in Australia found that over 14% avoided public toilets due to anxiety, while 3% avoided them due to fear of contamination. The main cause is fear of judgment, and psychologists consider it a form of social anxiety disorder.
Prolonged stool retention can cause constipation and difficulty in bowel movements. Chronic constipation increases the risk of hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and rectal prolapse, and in the long term may even lead to fecal incontinence. In one tragic case in the UK, a teenager developed serious health problems due to fear of using toilets and died at the age of 16.
