BBC Focus Magazine

[conduit]

Or is it just me? In any case its rather inconvenient.

[Shadowwolf]

I can't say that I have ever experienced that problem.

Perhaps when under stress other niggling problems start to impinge further than they should do?

[The Beige Avenger]

I remember before my viva I had to go pee like 5 times!!

I guess that is a somewhat controlled, slightly toned down version of peeing yourself when really scared.

Being that this is a 'primal thing' my money's on a primal cause; fight / flight!

Stimulating the Hypothalamus in cats can suddenly induce the need to urinate / defecate:

Electrical stimulation in cats of regions in and related to the anterior part of the hypothalamus can induce the behaviour of expelling or retaining urine and feces. When electrodes planted in these regions are stimulated by radio waves, the cat stops whatever it is doing and behaves as though it is going to urinate or defecate. It goes through its usual behaviour of digging a hole, squatting, and assuming the correct posture, and then it passes urine or feces. At the end, it even goes through its customary ritual of hiding its excreta.

Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/top ... defecation

Hypothalamus on wiki
Seeing all the different functions of the hypothalamus, many of them seem to be increased with increased stress (temperature, gastric reflex, hunger, thirst....)

The Hypothalamus affects the endocrine system and governs emotional behavior, such as, anger and sexual activity.

It's really close to the brain stem, the 'reptilian' brain... all the caveman stuff!

[Spyrolot]

I just assume its my body wanting to make the situation even worse for me. It likes doing that.

[Jamie]

Maybe your body's just giving you an excuse to leave the situation that's making you nervous in the first place ?

[M Paul Lloyd]

Its part of the old the old 'fight or flight' instinct kicking in with peeing closely followed by an urge to defecate and which, to a primitive and unclothed ancestor would provide a distinctly smelly and distracting decoy for any would be attacker... don't you think?

[conduit]

..and presumably you can run faster if you suddenly empty your bowels first.

[The Beige Avenger]

..and presumably you can run faster if you suddenly empty your bowels first.

Are you thinking along the lines of an after burner?

[Zaphod]

Is this also linked to the need to go to the toilet when we are cold. In that situation it is because the body needs the blood supply to keep us warm and therefore stops all unneccessary functions, including the storing of urine. In being nervous is our blood supply needed in other ways.

[Ush]

I have never had this problem.

When I am nervous I noticed that my heart starts to thump but I don't feel nervous on a conscious level. It's a strange sensation.

[The Beige Avenger]

What is feeling on a concious level?

You are aware of your increased heart rate... is that not something you are conciously aware of?

If you never get nervous you're not pushing your limits!

[Ush]

Sorry, bad explanation.

Yesterday I had an interview. Now when I was in the room I did not feel anxious (in my head). But I noticed that my heart was pumping rapidly, despite me feeling quite un-nervous (in my head). So, I inferred from this that my body was nervous, that it was trying to tell me to be nervous but my mind wasn't listening. It is difficult to explain and that is the best I can do.

As I said, it's a strange sensation.

Ya get me?