Dec 16, 2025 12:00:00

What is 'Parcoplexy,' the condition that prevents a child from pooping outside the home? What exactly is the problem?

Parcoplesia is a condition that makes it extremely difficult to defecate outside of the home. Even the thought of trying to defecate at school, work, or public places can cause pain and anxiety, and in some cases, people are unable to defecate at all while traveling. Associate Professor Vincent Ho, a clinical gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University, explained the problems and solutions faced by people with parcoplesia.

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Parcopresis is also known as 'bowel anxiety' or 'shy bowel syndrome.' When forced to defecate outside of their home, sufferers may experience symptoms such as palpitations, excessive sweating, nausea, tremors, and difficulty defecating. To avoid these symptoms, sufferers of parcopresis may reduce the amount of food they eat or avoid events or social activities that require them to use public restrooms.

A study of 714 Australian university students found that just over 14% of students avoided public toilets due to anxiety, indicating that parcoplesia is by no means a rare condition.

One of the causes of parcoplesia is thought to be the fear of being seen by others.

A survey of 316 Australian university students found that the most common reason for parcoplesia was fear of making a negative impression about bowel movements, such as 'what if people think it takes too long to go to the toilet' or 'what if they think the smell or sound of my bowel movements is strange?'

Psychologists consider parcoplesia to be a form of social anxiety disorder . A 2019 study found that people with parcoplesia tend to have negative thoughts about themselves, such as, 'If I fail at work, I'll be seen as a failure as a person.' 'Ultimately, people with parcoplesia are afraid of being judged by others,' says Ho.

Parcoplesia isn't just disruptive; it can also lead to a variety of health problems. Holding in your bowel movements causes more water to be absorbed from your stool, making it dry and hard in the large intestine. This can lead to chronic constipation.

Chronic constipation increases the risk of problems such as bleeding from hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and

rectal prolapse (prolapse of the rectum through the anus) , and if these conditions continue, the likelihood of leaking stool also increases.

In the UK, a 16-year-old girl with mild autism was unable to defecate for eight weeks, and her chest cavity became constricted by the stool-filled expanding colon, causing her to die of a heart attack .

Ho suggests that one way to treat parcoplesia is through proper education about bowel habits. A Turkish study showed that spending more than five minutes on the toilet increases the risk of hemorrhoids and anal fissures, so it's not good to sit on the toilet for too long. He also says that consuming enough dietary fiber can soften stools and make bowel movements easier.

Ho recommends techniques to promote healthy and regular bowel movements, such as 'sitting on the toilet for a maximum of six minutes,' 'eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to get enough dietary fiber,' and 'not straining when defecating.' Parcoplesia patients can become overly obsessed with 'having a bowel movement,' but Ho advised that it is important to develop lifestyle habits that make bowel movements easier.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative thought patterns, is often recommended as a first-line treatment for patients with parcoplesia, often using a structured, step-by-step approach to reduce anxiety and build self-confidence by confronting different public toilet situations.

Dr Ho said: 'The most important thing to do to overcome parcoplesia is to seek the help of a trained medical professional. The first thing to do is talk to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to determine whether your symptoms are due to constipation or another serious digestive problem. They may also be able to prescribe medication to help with constipation. Your GP may also be able to refer you to a psychologist who can arrange cognitive behavioural therapy to help change negative thought patterns. Holding your stool is not good for you. If you find yourself stressed about bowel movements whilst at work, school or travelling, it's worth taking the time to understand the reasons for the problem and deal with them.'