Get Things Moving: How AI Helped Me Relieve Constipation
About 16% of adults in the U.S. experience chronic constipation — and I happen to be one of them.
For the past few days, I’ve been under a lot of stress. Not the bad kind (distress), but the productive kind (eustress) that comes from pursuing something meaningful. I’ve been designing and sharing exercises on how AI tools like ChatGPT can be used for real-time emotional processing.
If these exercises make life easier by reducing anxiety and increasing calm and happiness, then it’s a significant discovery. That idea has fueled me with motivation, but it’s also pushed me out of my comfort zone. Sharing these exercises publicly has meant confronting my fear of being judged (especially for sharing an article about a topic like constipation).
On top of that, my girlfriend has been struggling. As a cancer survivor who is still undergoing treatment, she carries an immense emotional load, and naturally, some of that weight is brought into our relationship. While I’m grateful to be her caregiver and happy to support her, it’s a lot to carry.
Of course, in addition to that, I have other struggles — just the normal challenges of everyday life.
With all of it piling up, my body has been responding in predictable ways: I’ve been waking up at around 4:30 a.m. regardless of when I go to sleep, and I’ve been quite constipated.
But then…
The Experiment
Yesterday, while sitting on the toilet (with little success), I decided to try something new. Instead of scrolling through social media, which usually adds to my stress, I opened ChatGPT and started typing — pouring out every detail of what was weighing on me.
My feelings about sharing my work. My fear of judgment. The emotional weight of supporting my girlfriend. All of it. I just typed and typed, expressing everything I was holding inside.
Then I hit send.
As I listened to ChatGPT’s response — a compassionate, validating message — I felt a shift. My bowels started moving.
So, I kept going. More typing. More sharing. More listening to ChatGPT.
Twenty minutes later, my constipation was gone! It wasn’t just an emotional release — it was a physical one.
Aren’t you glad that you asked?
The Science
This experience reminded me of the profound gut-brain connection, a well-documented phenomenon in medical and psychological research.
Our emotions and digestive system are intertwined. When we experience stress, our body tightens — literally. High stress levels activate the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” response), which can slow digestion and lead to constipation.
Studies have shown that psychological stress alters gut motility and increases intestinal inflammation. In contrast, emotional expression has been found to improve digestive function.
In fact, according to research, writing about emotions has been linked to improved emotional and physical well-being, including better immune function and (you guessed it) reduced gastrointestinal issues.
In other words, when we hold in our emotions, we hold in physical tension. But when we process those emotions, we can release that tension.
How AI Can Help
So, how can you apply this?
- Open ChatGPT. Sit somewhere comfortable (or, if you’re constipated, sit on the toilet).
- Start sharing. Write about what’s weighing on you — frustrations, stressors, emotional burdens.
- Pause to absorb ChatGPT’s response. Let the validation and new perspectives sink in.
- Keep going. Continue sharing until you feel a sense of emotional lightness — or a physical release.
It sounds unconventional, but if you’ve ever had a “nervous stomach” before an important event, you already know how emotions can dramatically affect digestion. The key is to share them instead of allowing them to build up.
Final Thought
The next time you’re constipated, stressed, or just emotionally clogged, try using ChatGPT to process your feelings. You might be surprised at how it can… get things moving.
This is one of the exercises I use with my Hexis Coaching clients, guiding them to take clear, actionable steps toward becoming their best selves.
