Can Stress Management Benefit in Managing Anal Fissures?

The Impact of Stress on Anal Fissures

Anal fissure has many causes, which include various anatomical and physiological variations.

Some of the most common causes are:

• Severe constipation and diarrhoea.
• Changes in muscle strength around the anal canal.
• A constantly repeated pressure application on the anal canal (external/internal).
• Infection with reduced immunity to fight the infection

Looking at the above causes, can you consider its relationship with stress?

Let's make it easy for you to understand.

You may remember when you suddenly had to go up on the stage to perform something, and you felt churning in your stomach. Or when it was time to give your interview, you felt like you needed to run to the loo.

Yes, this is precisely the relationship we are talking about here.

The gut and brain are related; the same relationship can give you anal fissures.

Let's look into the mechanism of how this happens.

Can Anal Fissures Give You Psychological Stress?

Yes, this painful condition, which can last for a long time, troubles you every time you pass stools, refuses to leave, and recurs again every time your stools become hard. It can give you a challenging time. 

• Anal fissures often accompany anxiety and fear of pain. You tend to be under stress when you know it's time for your bowel movement. 
   
• Sometimes the pain associated with anal fissures may persist throughout the day. This may make you uncomfortable concentrating on your daily activities or sitting comfortably with your loved ones.
   
• The stigma tagged on with discussing topics around anal fissures may make you feel isolated and stressed.
   
• Some associated symptoms, like bleeding and the presence of skin tags, can leave you taken aback and anxious.

But you know what?! The less you worry, the better. Before we jump onto some scientific techniques for reducing stress, let us assure you that Anal Fissures are not as severe as the pain makes you feel.

So, the first thing you must do is relax and breathe!

Stress Reduction Techniques for Anal Fissure

You have heard a lot about stress reduction techniques and mindfulness generally. But, here, you will get techniques solely to pursue relaxation of the anal canal.

You can adopt the following methods to reduce your stress related to anal fissures : 

Mindfulness Meditation

• Sit or stand comfortably.
• Feel the connection between your buttocks and the ground/chair.
• Take deep breaths and imagine roots anchoring from your body to the ground.

Deep Breathing Exercises

• Practise belly breathing or abdominal breathing.
• Focus on the movement of your bowels in your abdomen.
• Breathe in and out calmly and slowly, feeling each breath relax your mind.
• Let go of any tension you are holding.

Yoga and Stretching for Anal Fissures

• Adopt yoga techniques that improve your bowel movement and release stress on your pelvic muscles. 
• Let yoga connect your body and mind for better movement of your intestines. 
• Some yoga stretches that help you with your digestive health are:
• Wind relieving pose.
• Butterfly pose.
• Seated forward bend.

Regular Physical Activity

• Walk regularly to give activeness to your digestive system. 
• Slow aerobic movements can help you reduce the impact of stress on muscles.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

• The progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) technique involves a method where you can systematically tense and relax muscle groups in the body. Here, you can concentrate on your abdominal muscles and pelvic muscles. 
• You can tense and relax your pelvic muscles for 15-20 seconds each. 
• You may also adopt a progressive method of relaxation starting from head to toe. 

The above techniques help you deal with the following symptoms of anal fissure.

• Daily physical activity and progressive muscle relaxation techniques help you reduce pain by reducing the muscle tension and relaxation of the sphincter.
• Lowering the overall stress and significantly impacting your bowel health, which you can obtain by yoga, breathing techniques and mindfulness.
• Physical activity and mindfulness enhance your immune system to work well on the healing process of fissures.
• Breathing exercises and yoga helps by improving body awareness to understand better and manage triggers and patterns associated with your anal fissure.
• Mindfulness and yoga also help you translate your response to your pain with resilience and acceptance and pave the way to deal with it well.

Above all, your lifestyle choices significantly manage your overall stress. Let us see what lifestyle choices you can make in addition to your relaxation techniques to manage stress and anal fissure.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Managing Your Stress in Anal Fissure

Choosing a mindful, healthy lifestyle will help you overcome this upsetting condition of anal fissure. 

Let's see what practical approach you can adopt.

Balanced Diet for Good Gut Health and Bowel Movements

Anal fissures heal from the intake of fibre-rich food, food act as probiotics and those that give optimal hydration. With this, you can also improve your gut-brain connection, reducing stress.

Sufficient Sleep for Restorative Healing

Improving body power and immunity always helps improve your gut health and stress. Getting a good night's sleep also allows your body to speed up the ulcer healing process by using the body rest for tissue repair and regeneration. Sleep is the best remedy for both physical and mental stress.

Make Physical Activity a Habit

Being active will help your bowel be functional. Remember to keep moving around if your work or daily activities involve sitting for an extended period. Also, move around and interact with the environment. These will reduce your stress levels and improve the strength of your pelvic muscles.

Interact with Peers

Interacting and sharing your experiences always help you deal with your problems better. Connect with people who face similar problems and try to heal them together. 

Practise Hygiene and Self Care Practices

Proper hygiene, especially in the anal areas, helps prevent infection and further discomfort. Caring for your body and practising good hygiene will enhance your well-being and contribute to healing.

Don't Worry! Seek Professional Help

If you think your stress is overwhelming and need guidance and support, do not hesitate to contact our Health coaches at Nirva Health.

They will guide you through the right path towards your journey of well-being.

Wrapping it Up

Managing stress is not only essential for mental well-being but also plays a crucial role in the management of anal fissures. Take a step forward and explore different stress reduction techniques. Find out what works best for you. 

Anal fissures need not define your life; instead, make it a reason to step towards improved well-being.