Thank you, ladies, for illuminating this topic. It is genuine, especially among women, and is often pooh-poohed as purely in our heads. It's not solely in our heads. There's a definite brain-gut connection that research is only beginning to uncover.
I sometimes have a physical need for an enema when I'm constipated. In simple terms, I have a sluggish lower bowel that gets bound up when I'm not exercising enough, not hydrating enough, not eating a proper diet enough, and not taking care of my stress levels enough.
Which also brings me to the emotional connection and how my colon moves stuff out of my body when I stressed. Most women get the "runs" when they're experiencing high anxiety. I'm the opposite. I get tied up inside. I do use other means first to get unbound. I don't automatically just take an enema.
Admittedly, I also on occasion feel the "need" for an emotional cleanse, and I love my enema bag for that purpose. A warm enema, with all its deep, tingly sensations, feels good. During this COVID-19 lock down, I've had a couple of times of minor depression and high anxiety. A good enema session cleaned me out and helped pick up my spirits. And I love the fact that my husband understands and is willing to give an enema if I'm feeling really down and out of sorts.
During this time, which I have written about, I am also on a regimen of monthly retention enema probiotic treatments with a naturopathic doctor -- and recently it's really helping to calm down my insides. Could this be just an emotional rather than a physical response? Maybe in part, but whatever works, because I've been battling this upset for a long time.