What stress & trauma has to do with potty learning (or EC)

It may sound surprising but they are deeply interconnected.

While the gut has long been regarded as a "second brain," recent research is shedding light on the intricate connection between the mind and the gut, known as the Gut-Brain Axis.

From a scientific standpoint, we understand that certain conditions, such as Parkinson's or depression, often correlate with digestive issues.

On a more personal note, who hasn't experienced the effects of stress or anxiety on their bowel movements?

In fact, the notion of the Gut-Brain Axis is a two-way street is deeply embedded in our language, with phrases like "a gut feeling" or "trust your gut" reflecting this intrinsic connection.

What does that have to do with EC and potty learning?

Well, to release our bladder and bowels effectively, we need to be attuned to the sensation of fullness. Babies and children who accumulate unexpressed emotions may respond by tensing their muscles to contain those feelings or by dissociating. This tension can extend to the muscles involved in controlling wee and poo.

When we dissociate (experiencing a freeze response in our nervous system), we become less attuned to the signals our body sends us.

The more relaxed we feel, the more relaxed our muscles are and the more we can connect with our natural signals to wee and poo.  

Drawing from my experiences working with numerous parents and observing my own children, I've noticed that when babies and children are given the space to release their feelings and heal from stress and trauma through crying, they tend to experience fewer issues with constipation, fewer accidents with urination, and are more open to using the potty or toilet. Children who tend to withhold are also children who to tend to hold their feelings in.

What's truly fascinating, from an Aware Parenting perspective, is witnessing the tangible difference that allowing crying as a means of healing stress and trauma can have in our bodies.