View Full Version : Anxiety = Urge to Urinate?
Hi all,
My first post here, and with that i would like to say that this site has been very informative and i have read quite a bit about anxiety.
Although I feel a little reluctant about posting what I am about to as it would appear that there are many of you that are suffering a lot worse than what i am, never the less i need help to try and understand my anxiety, and hopefully try and control it.
Where to start, well, the urge to urinate is where it starts and where it ends with me. Its the bane of my life. Ive read a lot on here about it and although I already knew that it was almost certainly anxiety that causes it, I am now even more sure from what I have read here.
I had the tests done for infections but they where negative. If it where an infection I would get pains while trying to pass water and I would have problems sleeping if it where an infection. So that has been ruled out.
I know that its anxiety that causes this and need to know how to stop it.
For me it started around 9 years ago, since then its been off and on. The trigger when it first started was the fact that I was about to change my career into IT, I had to go on a course for 2 weeks. About half way through the 2 week course the urge to urinate dissapeared. Why? I have no idea.
Since then it would be other things that would trigger it. One time it was the death of my grandfather and another a change of job.
Most recently (December) was when me and my family went on holiday to lapland. Now i thought i would get anxiety (or the urge to urinate) from thinking about the journey there, but it didnt occur, which was a real surprise to me. Great I thought, I can enjoy myself for once. However the second day into the holiday it hit me, and it hit me bad, I had the constant urge to urinate, I would get relief for about 10 mins after going to the toilet and then it would come back again. It really ruined the holiday for me and my family as when this hits me it makes me feel depressed as I cant stop trying to work out why it happens. It stops me from wanting to do anything, i feel as though I cant go anywhere. Going on holiday should be a fun time, so why did it hit me then? I was enjoying myself in the snow and watching my 4 year old son having a great time. So why did it have to come back during the holiday?
About a year ago I went to see my doctor as i was feelign very low, almost suicidal, I was put on a course of citalopram. The side effects for the first week or so where unpleasant but the doctor assured me they would pass and that they would help me, which they did, they seemed to take the edge off things. After a few months of taking them I felt a lot better, so I stopped taking them instantly, I know I shouldnt have done that but i didnt seem to have a problem coming off them.
I have since returned to the doctors as I have been feeling low again because of this anxiety (urinating issue). Again they have given me citalopram, but I have not started to take them as all they do is surpress the depression and anxiety. They are not treating the cause, but the symptom.
I want to find a way of beating this anxiety without the need for medication. I very rarely take medicine, I much prefer natural remidies such as homeopathy and I have used bach flower remidies in the past. But self prescribing these can be quite difficult to get right.
This anxiety is like a switch, off and on, for weeks or months i could be free from it, then all of a sudden its back. Sometimes for no apparent reason, there sometimes does not appear to be a valid reason (trigger) for it to re-occur.
When I was free from it one time the thought that i had not suffered from it for a while came into my mind, and sure enough, just like a switch it was back again. Maybe i am my own wort enemy for thinking about it. But how do you stop yourself from thinking about certian things?
Another problem which i think is anxiety related is sweating, its not so bad at the moment but in the past i used to sweat a great deal from under my right arm pit, if it was both arm pits then i would put it down to just the way my body works, but as its one sided it makes me feel sure that this is also anxiety related. But this is no where near as much as a problem for me as the urge to urinate as using good anti-perspirant helps with this.
I am at a loss with this thing, its having a negative effect on my relationship with my partner, she does not really understand how i feel and i find it very hard to try and explain to her how i am feeling.
I now know that its not just me who suffers with this urge to urinate thing after finding this site. so please, if you can help me in anyway then please do.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.
Regards
Dor.
I don't get this problem alone, but as part of my anxiety, it is particularly bad if I am travelling, or if I feel I am trapped (like in an appt or something). I also get ibs as well, which makes the urination problem worse.
I don't how yours is, but with mine I actually have to go desperately every 20 mins or so, it's not just the feeling. Also I know when it is anxiety because it is totally clear like water.
Sadly, I have so far not found a way to "cure" it, I think that will be when I manage to get a handle on my anxiety and drs have not been very helpful at all.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but please know that you're not alone.
reallyfedup
05-02-09, 10:52
the only thing i can say is - try to drink less? I pee all the time so can not suggest a remedy sorry.
you are definitely not alone on this. unfortunately it is a symptom of anxiety and for me the more i think about it the more i need to go.it difficult but try to focus on something else, easier said than done i know.
good luck.
Thanks for your comments, its definately all in the mind, I find that if I am doing something that requires concentration then its not so apparent.
Ive havent been working since November as my shop is closed until mid March as we are a seasonal business. I am hoping that when we open again I can focus more on running the shop and not dwelling on the wheres and hows and why's of this issue.
Positive thinking is what needs to be done but its hard to think positive about something that makes me feel so negative.
ScarlettsMom905
08-03-09, 17:24
My name is Kate and I am 24 years old.
About 3 years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I got dizzy and passed out once at the mall. Well, after that happened, my whole pregnancy I was in fear of passing out again in public and so when I would think about going out somewhere, I'd start to feel dizzy again. Along with that dizzy feeling, came the sudden urge to pee. Now, I had my daughter in September '07 and I still get dizzy, feel like I am going to puke, feel tired, and have urge to pee. Recently, I went into the ER for what I felt was a bladder infection (I've never had one before). The doctor told me my tests were leaning towards a UTI and they gave me meds. And this happened the day after my husband deployed to Iraq. It's been a month since I got treated for my UTI but still have the on again off again urge to pee. And it seems to be, if I am cleaning the house or busy doing something, that urge subsides. I just went in for a PAP test and find out the results of some STD tests (I was told I had an STD that the doc said I got from my husband some time) this week. I have been stressing about that and I feel like those UTI symptoms are coming back. Am I going crazy? This is driving me nuts. I am sick of feeling like this. I have never had depression or anything before but the anxiety started during my pregnancy and has yet to go away. Now that my husband is gone, I am in California and my family is in Wisconsin, I am feeling helpless raising my daughter alone and I worry a lot.
Hi
I have read your post and can say mine is exactly the same, although i have mild panic attacks sometimes with the thought of travelling or going out to somewhere incase there are no toilets! Sometimes we can be going on a journey that might only be 20 mins away and as soo as i get into the car i start thinking to myself, what if i need to go toilet then it all starts and i'm constantly thinking i need to go, my palms start to sweat and i have pulpatations.
NOW the way i have started to deal with it is, when i start thinking it i tell my self its just a thought and feeling i still get all the same symtoms but i let them happen. I know the feeling is really scary but I just tell myself whats the worse thats going to happen! Wet myself, then i really would have a problem to go the doctors about! And as daft as it sounds i carry my babies nappy it the car and in my bag, that way you have a security blanket so if the worse was to happen, it wouldn't be so embarrasing. But the worse wont happen its just a thought and feeling that occurs. Also i tend to push myself, instead of not doing things or constntly going the loo when i get this feeling i make myself carry on and bare those thoughts and feelings and then after 5-10 mins it passes. I really believe its about re-training the way your mind thinks and not to give into these feelings. I do still get this happen to me but it doesn't bother me as much as i am mentally tell myself the above and it really helps, don't let your anxiety take over your life. This is the only way i have found works and i will keep on with it until the feelings vanish.
I really hope this helps, as i know what effects it has on life and its one of the most scariest things i've ever had to cope with. Good Luck and stay possitive.:yesyes:
Hi,
I get this a lot. I seem to get it real bad when Im trying to sleep at night...ever ten minutes having to go for a pee. Its not very nice but it is a symptom of anxiety as I told me gp my experience and she confirmed that it was an anxiety problem. All I can suggest is try and do something else to take your mind off it. Not easy I know but it sometimes work for me.
:)
MyNameIsntRich
10-05-09, 07:27
i have gone through some periods of time where i had the same stuff with the urination. It was like literally anything i took in i p****d out 10-20 minutes later...it even lasted weeks at a time....
This post has been automatically edited by the NMP post filter
i also suffer from this urinating problem its been going on for about 8 months now more or less constantly, im ok in my own comfort zone but when i leave the house the urge of needing a pee comes, ive hardly left the house, im only 21 and feel like i dont have a life rite now ive started to see a hypno therapist and i think it could be helping time will tell, i used to go to raves and take ecstacy and made me feel like i needed to pee and i couldt but i think thats what could of triggered this plus my mate died and lots of other crappy stuff that effected my life, the only thing keeping me going is family and friends but hopefully hypno therapy wil help me if not maybe one of u guys could give me some advise ?
Hi,
I have been suffering from EXACTLY the same thing for the past ten months or so. The feeling and panic that goes with it is horrendous. But I know it's easy to think that other people feel worse- like those who feel they're having a heart attack, or will stop breathing. But I know from first-hand experience how frightening, frustrating and debilitating this fear of losing control of your bladder is. It's an waful thing to go through.
The fear of 'this time will be the time I can't hold on' is terrifying- but it's a LIE! I have struggled with this fear for almost a year, and have been through some situations where my anxiety was sky-high, but it never happened! Ever! Never ever!
And it will never happen to you either. There's nothing wrong with your bladder. It's just something wrong with your thought patterns...and these can be changed.
Citalopram has really helped me. I urge you to give it another go. Seeing a CBT terapist was useful as well. For me, it's been a case of gradually building up my confidence, and breaking down the lie.
I'm afraid there's no quick-fix solution, but it can get better, and will get better if you seek help and make a plan to help yourself.
I wish you the very best of luck. Please don't give up- it will pass.
:yesyes::yahoo:i have this its all to with anxiety,this is what i been told,that when the body go,s into stress state, ie anxiety the body is getting ready for a fight,so it will get rid of all its waste . piles 20 yrs,ha 5yrs ,ibs 3 yrs take care.
Hi,
I'm glad I found this site. Even though I wouldn't wish this problem on anyone, I'm glad I'm not alone. I've been experiencing panic attacks (mild) since 1978, but found if I just breathed deep a few times they went away. But, starting this past December, I've had horrible, unfounded urges to urinate. My heart will pound, I'll be trembling and I'll get dizzy and I'll have the absolute certainty that I must get to a restroom or I will wet myself, even if I went a short time ago and I know I couldn't really have to go. It doesn't happen at home and usually doesn't at work (the bathroom is right across the hall), but I've had it happen occasionally at my boyfriends (which shouldn't happen because I'm there all the time and comfortable there). It's the worst when I'm in public and especially bad when I'm with my boyfriend in public. How do you explain that you've got this weird mental thing happening and it's causing you to think you need to go? Of course, he probably thinks I've got some physical problem because I'm always going to the bathroom in public. (One good point is he drinks tons of soda, so he has to use the bathrooms a lot in public so I use them also when he does.) Less than 2 weeks ago I started wondering if the deep breathing would help me get through this like it helps with my (regular) panic attacks. I'm still working on it so I'm not sure yet. I have been trying to push myself to NOT go when I'm in those panic modes. It's been extremely difficult, since I'm so sure I have to go! I've gone into stores, knowing I don't have to go, but telling myself where the bathroom is just in case I do need it. But, then I start thinking about it too much, and before the trip to Walmart is over, I've probably parked my cart by the bathroom and gone in to the restroom.
I did find something that seemed to help. I had to have an ultrasound for a condition, and they required I drink 48 ounces of water within 30 minutes. I wasn't sure I could do it, so I practiced by doing it for several days in a row before the procedure. During that time I didn't experience the urge to urinate panic attacks. I don't know why that would effect it, but it sure seemed to. I've yet to force myself to drink that much on an ongoing basis. (Though I keep telling myself that I should.)
I think I will start to drink more water, and try to deep breath through the attacks and try to force myself to not give in to the urges during those attacks and see where it gets me. I truly hope these will go away someday - hopefully soon.
cymraig_chris
26-03-10, 16:03
Post removed by author
guitarpants
26-03-10, 17:02
Ever hear of someone peeing themselves when they are frightened? It's the same mechanism of action really. Anxiety does this to you as a few have stated above, the fight or flight response.
It can also be an OCD issue. I dealt with this in my early teens. I would have to go every 10-20 minutes. It was mostly because I would think about it often and I would worry and concentrate my attention on whether I felt like I had to pee or not. When I was finally distracted enough and stopped caring it went away.
still suffering
09-04-10, 20:11
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am so relieved that I am not the only one who is suffering with this problem.
About 4 years ago I started suffering with exactly the same problem. I visited doctors, a specialist that dealt with incontinence with old people and 2 different urologists. The specialist for old people, had me recording what I was drinking and peeing out for several weeks (quite a challenge when at work ... but I managed). Anyways what she said was that on average, we should be peeing out about 600ml first thing in the morning. To say she was both surprised and shocked when she saw that I pee'd in excess of 1400ml, would be an understatement. She then went on to ask if I ever woke in the middle of the night and then turned over and went back to sleep, to which the answer was yes. She told me off for this and said on no account should I do this and instead I should go and empty my bladder, as things would get much worse later in life (I was 35 at the time).
The doctors gave me various drugs, which did nothing and the first urologist, interviewed me and then proposed some special tests, which would involve filling me up with fluid and then doing all sorts of measurements, but I would have to wait for the head of the unit to return from vacation for this. In the mean time I went back to the GP, who then referred me to a different urologist and this turned out to be a blessing. Basically he listened to everything I told him and he said try this ... throughout the day at regular intervals, clench the muscle that would normally make you stop peeing, hold this for 30 secs and then release ... repeat this exercise a minimum of ten times per session. I was very sceptical, but gave it a go anyway. I was amazed, within 2 weeks, the problem had disappeared. I have since been told that this is similar to the pelvic floor exercises that women are asked to carry out after birth.
Unfortunately, the problem returned about 2 weeks ago (after having been without the problem for nearly 2.5 years). I am now doing the exercises again and the problem seems to have eased a little.
One other thing that I also found helps is when I pee, I use the cubicle and sit down (strange I know), but I take my time and let every bit of fluid leave my bladder, right down to the last drip ... this sees me good for a while also.
The worst situation I have experienced is when on an aircraft and they put on the seatbelt sign, when coming into land ... there is nothing you can do, until they are down and at the terminal, at which point you quickly walk to the nearest loo. Top tip ... keep track of when you are due to arrive, or wait for the annoucement from the pilot when they will start there descent and then use the loo, this should see you get through the experience with few problems.
Hope this is of help to some.
Hel_is_heaven
09-04-10, 21:18
Hiya,
I also have the urge to urinate it seems the anxiety makes it happen more.
Worse for me, as I suffer from IBS, is the feeling that I might mess myself.
I don't think we should be embarassed to talk about these things as lots of us suffer from the same thing.
The thing is we are caught in an awful vicious circle. We have the thoughts, which cause the symptoms, which cause the thoughts, which cause more symptoms, etc etc.
I find citalopram helps by breaking that circle if only a little, it helps my background anxiety, which then means I am able to control my thoughts slightly better because I am not consistently anxious.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a great one for changing the way you think. Counselling helps a lot as well.
As for other things, well you could start by wearing an incontinence pad for the journey. I know its awful but sometimes it just helps.
Also perhaps research the journey you have to make and mark off where the loos are so you can make a stop or two along the way?
Also you could prepare by not drinking coffee or tea about 2 hours or so before a journey so you don't need to pee.
Distraction is a great one to help not focus on the feeling of needing to urinate. Take something that you will need to concentrate on. Can you drive? Can you do the driving? It would help with feeling like you are in control and that you can stop when you need to.
It is also a good idea in general day to day stuff to keep your bladder full as long as possible - without causing damage to yourself - to exercise your muscles.
I hope some of this helps.
Helen x
Hi,
I've had similar problems and also IBS. It's difficult I know when doctors don't know what to do. I think with anxiety the mechanism of urinating etc seems to go a bit wrong. One think I learnt from an NHS therapist was to retrain my, ahem, bowels by not "going" immediately when I had to rush to the toilet. This eventually reduced the association of anxiety with having to go to the toilet. If you see a CBT therapist they may mention this. Hope this is of some use.
There is a way to help cope with the urge, by using electrodes that sort of desensitise the bladder and stop minor urges from reaching/alerting the brain, in theory. This will help to retrain your bladder and become less sensitive to those minor bladder movements.
Machines can be like this: NEUROTRAC PELVITONE - PELVIC TONER
See a physiotherapist about this!
I have this problem when my anxiety is bad. Apparently, the bladder has a memory and the more you go the more you want to go. It needs retraining.
The thought of a long journey always makes the problem worse. Never go on a coach without a loo!
My 16 year old daughter is just the same.
I definately get this with my anxiety, I thought it was only me. I need to go almost constantly when I'm anxious, along with IBS. It's such a strong urge sometimes I think I'm gonna wet myself [although I never have]
It's a big annoyance & I've been tested for infections...just something I have to put up with. It also makes me paranoid when I'm out about finding a toilet...
Just another thing to have to 'deal with' :(
I get this! My therapist said it is because I am hyperaware of my body and so I notice having to "go" much sooner than I would if I was not feeling so anxious.
MidnightCalm
08-10-10, 21:35
I find that I end up trying to urinate when I don't even need to!
I don't know if it's just because I'm out of tune with my body or that I'm just trying to find something to do or have some sort of control of my body for once! :doh:
I also get this unfortunately :( It would happen to me if ia had to do someting important or serious ie: Court with my ex wife, or travelling to the next town to see my daughter. I've no idea how to stop it myself. I've just put it down to part of my anxiety. Although your situation is defo a lot more extreme. Hope you feel better soon.
Aaron
I also have this and have suffered from anxiety for years. Of course, only dealing with the symptoms (the urge to wee) rather than tackling the cause (anxiety) can only be a short-term and partial fix. Like many people I'm not wild about taking medicines, partly because I don't want to rely on them but also because I'd rather get myself in order than paper over the cracks. Again, treating the symptoms with medicine is not addressing the root cause.
It seems to me that the main problem is that we often take ourselves too seriously. What we do seems to matter sooo much. We worry about what people think of us, how are plans and actions will turn out and all the things that can go wrong. There really is no end to the things that you can worry about! And worry is low-level fear, making us feel weak, trembly and quite frankly, a bit pathetic.
I want to suggest that thinking about ourselves less is the key to stopping anxiety. You can contemplate the vast age and size of the universe or all the people who have lived throughout history. These people were real like us, not just names! You can think about people you read about in the newspaper or see on TV, or people you see while queueing for a bus. Or think about your friends and family. Basically anything that shrinks the sense of your own importance is good. Once you have got used to directing your attention outwards rather than inwards, things start to get better, little by little.
I don't believe in positive thinking (trying to convince myself of what I know, deep down, isn't true) or weird eastern ways of relaxation or homeopathy, because for something to work for me, I have to understand how, and be convinced that, it really works. I don't want to pretend that I'm the happiest person in the world when I'm not. This kind of self-deceit is part of the problem, not the solution.
After twenty years of anxiety and reading lots of philosophy, psychology and self-help style books, I think reducing the sense your own importance is the only cure. Look around you at the people you like and admire, and all of them will have this trait: they are not consumed by self-importance.
Another thing that helped me is my conviction that we don't have free will. We have free choices, but what we choose will be determined by the people we have become, which ultimately is beyond our control. We neither chose our genes, nor our families, nor the country and age we grew up in. Our personal history is like a set of falling dominoes with one thing leading inexorably to the next; at each new domino we choose anew, but our choice is determined by who we have become, which in turn is determined by previous choices. This means that 'we' should get no praise for the good things we do, but equally, we are not really to blame either. In the same way you shouldn't pat yourself on the back for not being born with Downes Syndrome, you also don't have to blame yourself for ending up less than perfect!
Anyway, this is not an all or nothing cure because it takes a while to get used to thinking of things other than yourself, so it works by degrees. But the more you get used to thinking of things outside yourself, the less self-obsessed you become. This takes time but it's worth it. The full treatment could take years, but starting today will get you used to a different way of thinking and will make a difference right away. So, in a nutshell, get so interested in the world around you that there is no room for your self-obsessive thoughts!
Thumbelina
05-02-11, 15:21
I actually know that my levels of anx, panic and depress go up as soon as soon as i start running to the loo too often. Happeninv now.
I have same problem as well.5 6 years ago been checked for diabetes and was all clear.last week I went to gp again to find out diabetes insipidus.its smillar symptoms like diabetes drinking so much water and peeing a lot but reason is different ..some hormone is not enough for kidneys to stop peeing and kidneys dont keep water in body send them all out..
I will find out what it is.if is diabetes insipidus its good couse there are some medicines avaiable replacing this hormone and stop peeing..
I'm too same specially when I'm worry about something or angry or stressed I can stop peeing.I remember one time i drunk 20 lt water in 2 3 hours and pee all of them during 3 hours...
Its really not good...
technojeek
17-10-11, 08:17
Hi,
You have to clear the gutter to relieve from the bad odor. The same with the Anxiety. If you take pills they suppress the hormones and keep you calm for specific time, again it starts once the medication is over.
The best doctor is you! analyze what causes the anxiety trigger and try to eliminate them. Sit calm and meditate and try to find the reason.
Deep breathing, sudharshan Kriya, Jogging all can aid you in clear your anxiety and depression.
Depression is merely a suppression of feelings. Open them, let they gush out...
India
stonemonkey111
09-02-12, 18:38
The reason it could have helped may be because your dehydrated. A quick search into google about the positive effects of water on anxiety will show you this. @selenjmr
I had this problem a few years ago and was prescribed oxybutin, it solved the issue totally.
I hope this helps you guys-
Firstly I was mentally stressed for 1.5 years due to career, studies and specially health...took anti depressant pills for 7-8 months....which help me fight my negative thoughts..i was almost fine and got out of this.....and stop taking these pills.
But this time when it came back, it came back with revenge and i was trapped with my Obsessive compulsive negative thoughts and urgency to pee was a bonus package with it :doh:...
The more i think about peeing the more intense it gets....and its been mre than a year fighting this....
Solution to this or what helps me the most or wt doctors had advised me-
- If you are getting all these thoughts (negetive & peeing) dont fight...the more you fight and avoid thinkin about these thoughts it will backfire you with more force....just give up fighting these thoughts...it helped me.....
- Meditation does help but there are long term side affects....so i dnt want further tension thinkin abt these side affects...
- Doctor advised me to laugh and laugh like a crazy person...i do it when i am driving in a car with music on or under a swimming pool or either alone in my house..though i was caught doing couple of times :doh:
- Force yourself to do something other than your regular schedule like any indoor game or outdoor game and make it a habbit.(1-2 hrs daily)
- Also pray to GOD which helps you A LOT as its an appetite for your soul to be in peace.
- Accept it like this was your destiny...which had to happen...
-Always look at people who are more miserable than you are and thank GOD for not being one of them..
i also suffer from this urinating problem its been going on for about 8 months now more or less constantly, im ok in my own comfort zone but when i leave the house the urge of needing a pee comes, ive hardly left the house, im only 21 and feel like i dont have a life rite now ive started to see a hypno therapist and i think it could be helping time will tell, i used to go to raves and take ecstacy and made me feel like i needed to pee and i couldt but i think thats what could of triggered this plus my mate died and lots of other crappy stuff that effected my life, the only thing keeping me going is family and friends but hopefully hypno therapy wil help me if not maybe one of u guys could give me some advise ?
Hi, I've been suffering with the same problem for about 4 years now. It's getting in the way of things I want to do now and I hate it. Am curious to know if you tried hypnosis and if it worked for you? I'm willing to try anything.
I have been suffering similar for a few years now too. Mine seems to be more a fear of loosing control of my bowels but most definitely it can be bladder too when anxious! It really is my worst anxiety symptom and has left me housebound with piles at 20 years old!!! I've had social anxiety since my early teens but I think this particular problem was triggered when I went on holiday on a coach with a broken toilet and the worst stomach bug I have ever experienced. Think this would be enough to give anyone a phobia, let alone someone with existing anxiety! It's plagued me throughout the years but got really bad about 3 years ago. I've had 6 sessions of CBT for 'toilet phobia' to no avail. I'm getting on medication soon and plan to try hynotherapy once I can get a hold on the SA. If anyone knows any other tips to cure this please share!
Hi,
I have this, and, boy has it affected me. Bottomline, I think we are scared of not being able to make it to a bathroom in time and consequently end up wetting ourselves in public. The trigger is social anxiety, the symptom is urination.
I have a solution and I genuinely hope it helps all of you. It did give me relief, so I guess it works. Like asthma or any other lifestyle disease, this symptom needs to be managed. For long journeys, drink less water, make sure you pee before you start the journey and take an anxiety releiving tablet like Zapiz or Epitril (in India). This should help you out for plane, train or long distance travel.
For short journeys, do nothing. Thats right. More often than not, it is the fear that is getting to us. How many of us really ended up peeing on ourselves? Probably none or very few. Thats because the bladder takes 2 hours to fill up, which is enough time to locate a toilet in the other part of the city :) So when you get the feeling, use reverse psychology and let go. Believe me, nothing will happen. Just the fact that you are not tense will help you out and ease the anxiety, which in turn will relieve the urge to urinate. If "letting go" is a too big a leap, use an incontinence pad for a few days. When the anxiety center in the brain gets a message that you dont care if you pee on yourself or not, it lets go. And that in turn works.
This worked for me. Hope it works for all of you.
I do hope that you get back to being the real you and enjoy life, vacations and family time again.
Hi,
This is Chet again. I am writing this because I have hopefully found a solution to this problem and this is my way of paying it forward. I hope my post helps someone out there to get back their lives and feel normal again.
Like I mentioned in my earlier post, this weird anxiety related symptom had pretty much destroyed my social life and self esteem. It had come to a point, where even if I was running a 30 minute errand, I would start feeling weird and begin to look for places too pee, like a 3 year old. Before this symptom started, I was a fairly confident guy who used to speak in public and had a general sense of confidence about him. There was one trigger incident for this symptom to begin. This happened when I was 32 in a long distance public bus. For some reason, I felt a massive urge to urinate and I forced the driver to make an unscheduled stop. Following this I had an altercation with the driver and shortly thereafter this problem took hold.
Even small joyrides with my kids became a no-no. My public speaking stopped.If I did venture out, I was constantly on the look out for toilets. Public transportation became a taboo. I used to literally be holding my crotch when planes used to taxi because you cannot use the lavatory then. I skipped client meetings if it meant I had to take a subway. I used to go to events early with the hope that I would get an aisle seat. Every journey became a horror and slowly my family started paying the price for my phobia. We stopped going out, we stopped doing fun things because Daddy always needs to go to the loo. I know that a few people also made fun of me behind my back.
I endured this torture for close to 4 years and it completely took over my life. It was funny how a small incident had a domino effect on my life and ended up virtually paralyzing me socially. I tried therapy and it kinda worked (see my earlier post last year). I tried positive re-inforcement, meditation, muscle relaxation, anti-depressants, the works. Nothing worked.
Last year I finally fought with myself and decided to "come out" to myself about this weird phobia I had. Weird because I could not share it with anyone, not even my wife (though everyone knew about my condition by then!). I mean, c'mon, grown ups are not meant to have bladder issues.
So in April this year, I had enough of this and I went to the super market and secretly bought an incontinence pad. Now, I wear it whenever I know I am going to get into a situation which triggers my anxiety. The incontinence pad worked!!
Since the last two months, I have taken one vacation where I finally got into a bus (woohoo!) , spoke in public for half an hour and went on three weekend joyrides with my kids.
This phobia had made my life hell and I dont know the science behind what causes this and whats the cure. I scoured the net, consulted doctors, etc for four years but did not find any help. Now thankfully, I am getting my life back, one day at a time.
This summer I presented my Dad's poems in front of a crowd of a hundred people. When I was done, I went backstage and cried to myself. Only those going through this weird anxiety symptom know what this feels like.
I hope someone out there reads this and my post helps you.
God bless!
I can totally empathise with this as I suffer from a similar thing except instead of weeing it's the other, less pleasant bodily function. Having suffered from IBS I live in constant fear of having an accident when I'm out and over time I have become steadily more obsessed about it. Whenever I go anywhere new or have to go on a long car journey the anxiety starts and the urge for the loo follows soon after. It is very hard and more often than not I do have to find a toilet urgently to relieve myself. But I have also found that in times when it's not possible I have been able to control it because it is all in my mind.
Yes anxiety does put the body into fight or flight mode and one of the symptoms of this is going to the toilet (it makes you lighter and more able to run away from danger) so although the urge can be real, it is controllable through distraction, breathing techniques and just basically trying to avoid the panic. I have been stuck in places literally thinking I was going to poo my pants, that's how desperate I was. Then I have become distracted or removed myself from the situation and the urge totally subsides. Does this sound like you?
At the minute I am starting CBT to try and change my thought process in regards to the toilet. I don't want to be fixated on it. I don't want to be fearful of doing certain things. I wish you luck, don't let your life be ruled by this x
Soulcatcher71
21-06-15, 12:38
This particular issue (worrying whether or not I would be able to go to the toilet if I needed to) was the bane of my life in school, and was the issue that started off all the subsequent problems.
I developed this one in my first yr of senior school (aged 11) and then went through every single class for the next 5 yrs worrying about this.
Absolute nightmare, that sent my life down a totally different direction.
However, now I'm in my 40's, all I can tell you is that I haven't even thought about this issue in yrs - it just went away in time & replaced itself with different issues.
I hope it gradually drifts away for you too.
It's amazing how many people have this weeing problem in one form or another.
As a man of course we have the tiny walnut that grows into a beachball, I give you the prostate.
I am now 55 + VAT and many of my friends have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and in several cases they didn't even know they had it.They had none of the regular symptoms but fortunately like with most cancers if caught early it can be cured or at worst kept at bay.
I have had a stinging feeling for over ten years that comes and goes and I and the various urologists I have seen have all said anxiety and stress can cause a stinging burning sensation and hesitency as well as going to the loo when you don't have to.
I have had all the procedures available done and nothing comes up therefore it can't be treated but it was interesting that when I was recently in hospital after my heart attack I had none of those symptoms I have mentioned above as I am sure my mind was distracted and I felt in safe hands,being in hospital.
Now I am home with a number of personal issues raising their ugly head yet again, the stress levels go up and then the weeing every 45 minutes and stinging returns. it's bloody hard to deal with as well as being rather uncomfortable.
By the way cranberry juice is NOT recommended as it is acidic.
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