Part 23 (Second Half) | The Habit of Ignoring the Urge to Defecate Stops the Bowels—The Vicious Cycle of Ignore → Desensitize → Ignore (Behavioral Edition)

Part 23 (Second Half) | The Habit of Ignoring the Urge to Defecate Stops the Bowels—The Vicious Cycle of Ignore → Desensitize → Ignore (Behavioral Edition)

◼️ | Introduction

In the first half, we covered the "reasons why the urge to defecate doesn't reach you."
Today, in the second half, we will discuss "how to handle that urge once it arrives."
Only when these two things are aligned will the bowels begin to move.

As for the urge to defecate,
the bowels will not move just by feeling it.

"How you handle it the moment you feel it"

This is what determines the future of your bowels.

◼️① | Ignoring the urge to defecate breaks the "rectal sensors"

The urge to defecate is created by

sensors called stretch receptors (= mechanoreceptors)that activate when the rectal wall is stretched.

However—
if you repeatedly ignore the urge to defecate and continue the habit of storing stool in the rectum for long periods,

• the rectum remains "stretched out"

• the sensors become less responsive

• and the signal for the urge to defecate that should reach the brain weakens

In other words, a "body that is hard to feel" is created.

The more you stretch the rectum,
the more it becomes a
"bag that doesn't react even when stretched".

Medically,
this is called “increased rectal compliance.”

When the rectal pouch loosens and stops reacting even when stretched—

・ The urge to defecate weakens (leading to constipation)

・ The urge to defecate is delayed (leading to fecal incontinence/leakage)

・ The urge to defecate stops coming altogether (habitual loss of urge)

This creates a fixed “resting state” in the bowels.

When the rectal sensors become dull,
it is not that the urge to defecate “isn’t coming,”
but simply that it is “no longer being felt.”

Therefore, for true improvement,
a “process to reawaken” these sensors is essential.

This is the core of improvement.

◼️② | Recovery of Rectal Sensitivity (Sensory Rehabilitation)

The reflex for the urge to defecate is the exact opposite of muscles.
While muscles get stronger the more you use them,
the reflex for the urge to defecate is designed to “weaken the less you use it.”

If ignoring, holding back, and putting it off continues,
the rectum remains “stretched out”
and stops reacting to small amounts of stool (rectal overdistension → reduced sensitivity to urge).

That is why the first step toward improvement is,

👉 “Go even if it's a small amount” = Sensory rehabilitation for the rectal sensors

is.

The response will not return all at once.
The rectal sensors
are revived by “making them react just a little bit” many times over.

This is the most important process of bowel rehabilitation, which is
“treating the urge to defecate with care”.

◼️③ | The reflex weakens, and the brain's priority is rewritten

The urge to defecate is a reflex.

Reflexes get weaker the less you use them.

Every time you ignore the urge to defecate, the brain makes this judgment:

Then, within the brain,
the priority of the urge to defecate drops rapidly.

• Meetings

• Social media

• Tension

• Going out

• Taking care of children

These types of stimuli take precedence over the urge to defecate.

As a result—

→ The lifespan of the urge to defecate shortens

→ The urge to defecate becomes harder to feel

→ Progressing toward a body that cannot notice the urge to defecate

This is linked to the "not noticing" discussed in Part 23 (First Half).

◼️④ | If you hold it in, the "hardness" accelerates and enters a vicious cycle

The large intestine is an organ that absorbs water.

The longer stool stays, the more moisture is removed.

In other words, if you ignore the urge to defecate,

• the stool becomes harder

• it becomes harder to pass

• the next urge to defecate is further delayed

This creates a "physical vicious cycle."

Hardens → Painful → Don't want to go → Ignore it → Hardens even more

You enter a "vicious cycle that is hard to escape" .

And there is one more point that is often overlooked.

When a "physical vicious cycle" occurs where stool becomes hard,
it also triggers a "psychological vicious cycle" next.

Pain, discomfort, and tension instantly make the autonomic nervous system dominant in the sympathetic nervous system, further extinguishing the urge to defecate that should have naturally arisen.

Pain, anxiety, and tension instantly switch the intestines into "stop mode."

This is the core of the "reasons for ignoring the urge to defecate."

◼️⑤ | Stress Management (The Greatest Enemy That Extinguishes the Urge to Defecate)

The biggest factor in ignoring the urge to defecate is
tension and stress.

Just by turning on the sympathetic nervous system, the urge to defecate that should have naturally arisen is designed to "disappear in an instant."

• Work pressure

• Anxiety when going out

• Tension from child-rearing

• Stress in human relationships

All of these shorten the "lifespan of the urge to defecate."

That is precisely why,
・Breathing
・Posture
・Loosening tension around the neck
・1-minute vagus nerve reset

and other "instant relief methods" you master will make it easier for the urge to defecate to arise.

Stress and the urge to defecateare more deeply connected than you might think.

◼️⑤ | The rhythm of the pelvic floor muscles is disrupted, and the "exit closes"

The more you ignore the urge to defecate,
the more likely you are to develop
a habit of pushing with abdominal pressure (straining habit)when you go to the toilet.

This leads to hypertonicity of the pelvic floor muscles,

→ The rectum does not open

→ The exit remains closed

→ Straining → Closing even more

creating a vicious cycle.

The terror of the habit of ignoring the urge to defecate is that it also spreads to problems at the exit.

◼️⑥ | Scientific research (two studies, domestic and international)

I will introduce two studies that show
“just how much ignoring the urge to defecate stops the bowels.”

◆ Study 1 (USA, Journal of Gastroenterology)

People who habitually ignore the urge to defecate
have reduced rectal sensitivity,
requiring more than double the amount of stool before the urge occurs.

= The habit of ignoring leads to “rectal overdistension” and “reduced sensitivity to the urge.”

(*A state where the rectum is stretched out and becomes a “dull bag,”
making the sensors for the urge to defecate less responsive)

◆ Study 2 (Japan, Pediatric Constipation Research)

Children who have a habit of holding in the urge to defecate
are more likely to suffer from severe loss of the urge, constipation, and abdominal pain.

In particular,
“cannot go at school”
or
“the toilet is dirty”
—these “psychological reasons for holding it in” accelerate the paralysis of rectal sensors.

= The same mechanism applies to adults.

In other words, the “days you couldn't go”
are gradually rewriting your bowel sensors.

◼️⑦ | The complete “Ignore → Desensitize → Ignore” loop

What is happening in your bowels right now
can be summarized as shown in the diagram below👇

The habit of ignoring leads to
“rectal overdistension” and “reduced sensitivity to the urge.”

Just as muscles weaken when not used,
the reflex for the urge to defecate also has a mechanism where it 'weakens the less it is used.'

A rectum that has been stretched out
becomes less sensitive to feeling 'full' even when it is packed with stool,
making it harder for the urge to defecate to arise.

◼️⑧ | Improvement methods you can start right now

These are 'handling techniques' to get your bowels moving starting today.

✔ ① Move within '2 minutes' when you feel the urge

The brain learns that 'the urge to defecate is important,'
and its priority level increases.

✔ ② If you absolutely cannot go, stand up briefly

Just by moving your body slightly,
your autonomic nervous systemreturns to parasympathetic dominance,and the lifespan of the urge to defecate is extended slightly.

✔ ③ Set 3 'urge to defecate checkpoints' throughout the day

• After breakfast

• After lunch

• After dinner

= 'Visualize the timing when the urge to defecate should come'

This makes it easier for the brain to catch the urge to defecate.

✔ ④ Adjust your posture and breathing to restore your "ability to feel"

• Tilt your pelvis slightly upright

• Inhale through your nose and exhale for a long time

• Regain breathing that moves the intestines (diaphragm)

Build the foundation for your ability to sense the urge to defecate.

✔ ⑤ Reset your internal clock with "morning light"

The golden route of morning light → serotonin → intestinal peristalsis (peristalsis) begins to move, and
the peak of the urge to defecate for the next day is created.

◼️⑨ | For those who haven't read the first half

💡 The habit of ignoring the urge to defecate
simultaneously creates a "body that cannot notice the urge to defecate."

If you haven't read the first half yet,
"The Lifespan of the Urge to Defecate—Why Only Those Who Don't Ignore It Achieve Regularity (Ability to Feel Edition)"
will make your understanding much more comprehensive.

◼️10 | "The urge to defecate is a short message from the intestines"

• If you ignore it, the sensor breaks

• The reflex weakens

• It becomes hard

• Priority drops

• A "body that doesn't feel the urge to defecate" is created

Conversely—

If you change how you treat it,
the urge to defecate will definitely return.

The gut is an "organ that is easier to restart" than you think.

▶︎ Next Episode Preview (Part 24)

Individual differences in bowel movement rhythm
—Let go of perfectionism and respect your own gut clock.

The "timing" of the urge to defecate is completely different for each person.
Next time, we will reveal the "unique rhythm" that only your gut possesses.

◼️ | Online Program: Creating a "Body Where the Urge to Defecate Returns" through Breathing × Posture

Your gut rhythm
changes significantly with "breathing × posture × body temperature."

In the Online Program for Breathing and Posture,

• How to prepare for the night

• How to get your gut moving in the morning

• Posture reset

• Diaphragm care
  can be practiced together with videos and guided instructions.

Instead of struggling alone, why not start rebooting your gut in a
“space where everyone gets in tune”?

Thank you for reading until the end.

“The moment you feel the urge to defecate is your chance”—
Please try to be conscious of this just once in your daily life today.

If you feel even a little bit that:
・The urge to defecate has returned
・Your stomach feels lighter
・Your breathing has become deeper
Those sensations are signs that your gut has “rebooted.”

If you could leave that feeling in the comments section,
it will become a “trigger for someone else to regain their flow.”

👉 Toward a “body where going is natural.”
May your gut quietly start moving again today.