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Bladder Problems FROM ANXIETY/PHOBIA! PLEASE HELP!!
I realized I had a bladder problem in the 12th grade. I when to the restroom in every class everyday. Teachers started not to let me go, so then I had to go to a urologist to get a nurse's pass. The urologist told me everything was OK and I had an "overactive bladder" and started making me take Oxybutynin 5mg tablets once a day in the morning that relaxes my bladder or something like that. I noticed the side effects after the 1st week like dry mouth, sleepy and if I didn't eat with the pill diarrhea. I still went to the restroom in every class everyday but I noticed something I didn't notice before I would go to the restroom and nothing would come out. So I ended up pushing trying to get any and all things out but when I returned to class I had the "pee" feeling again. I'm in college now and this problem is just plain embarrassing now! So I "Googled" my problems and it all lead up to "anxiety and phobia". It made sense because at home or family members homes I was normal but public place it started to get ridiculous! So I "Googled" solutions for my problem and it all lead to more pills, which don't wanna take but might ending up having to and also breathing exercises which didn't help me at all! SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY BLADDER PROBLEM CAUSE FROM MY ANXIETY/PHOBIA ?!?!
Yes I do feel anxious when I go to class or any public place but I just get a pee feeling. The breathing exercises work somewhat but people kind of look at you funny when you do it in class. I will look into the CBT, relaxation classes, yoga, pelvic floor exercises, meditation. When it comes to herbal supplements I was currently looking into camomile tea. Also my urologist isn't ever putting a camera into my bladder but I'll look into scans. I don't think it's cystitis never had pain or anything like that. He said I had OAB (overactive bladder) and anxiety. Thank you for all the advice and I'll post an update once I try some this stuff.
Hiya,
Can i ask when you go into class do you feel anxious? Do you have a sense of dread, swaeting, fast heartbeat or butterflys etc... I ask as when we feel nervous it is extremely common to have the urge to pee. The 'fight or flight' response causes the nervous system to divert blood to other parts of the body and so the bladder becomes more relaxed giving the sensation of needing to go. This may be what is happening.
In terms of treatment is there is a variety of both med's and therapy that you can choose. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which will help you to relax and retrain your mind and body, you could try relaxation classes, yoga, pelvic floor exercises, meditation. There are also herbal supplements that have a combination of relaxing herbs such as valerian, hops, camomile, passion flower which will help the anxiety sysmtoms and may stop or reduce this bladder problem. then there is the medication... there is a drug called propranalol which helps to block anxiety symptoms and this can be good for bladder problems too, so it may be worth chatting to your doctor about if all else fails.
On the flip side has the urologist put a camera into your bladder? Have they done scans? I ask as the symptoms also do sound a lot like Cystitis. This is an inflammation of the bladder that causes a constant need to pee but hardly anything comes out, however it often comes with burning upon peeing, pain in the bladder and sometimes blood being seen as well, which you havent mentioned, so may not be this at all.
I would consider trying a combination of the above with advice from your doctor so you get the best possible treatment for you personally. It may take a herbal supplement with CBT and a relaxation class for example. Play about with the combinations until you find the best one for you. it may take some time so please try to be patient.
Good-luck and all the best.
Can i ask when you go into class do you feel anxious? Do you have a sense of dread, swaeting, fast heartbeat or butterflys etc... I ask as when we feel nervous it is extremely common to have the urge to pee. The 'fight or flight' response causes the nervous system to divert blood to other parts of the body and so the bladder becomes more relaxed giving the sensation of needing to go. This may be what is happening.
In terms of treatment is there is a variety of both med's and therapy that you can choose. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which will help you to relax and retrain your mind and body, you could try relaxation classes, yoga, pelvic floor exercises, meditation. There are also herbal supplements that have a combination of relaxing herbs such as valerian, hops, camomile, passion flower which will help the anxiety sysmtoms and may stop or reduce this bladder problem. then there is the medication... there is a drug called propranalol which helps to block anxiety symptoms and this can be good for bladder problems too, so it may be worth chatting to your doctor about if all else fails.
On the flip side has the urologist put a camera into your bladder? Have they done scans? I ask as the symptoms also do sound a lot like Cystitis. This is an inflammation of the bladder that causes a constant need to pee but hardly anything comes out, however it often comes with burning upon peeing, pain in the bladder and sometimes blood being seen as well, which you havent mentioned, so may not be this at all.
I would consider trying a combination of the above with advice from your doctor so you get the best possible treatment for you personally. It may take a herbal supplement with CBT and a relaxation class for example. Play about with the combinations until you find the best one for you. it may take some time so please try to be patient.
Good-luck and all the best.
I had this problem all through high school but it reached its worst my senior year. Anxiety does run in my family on my fathers side. I have seen 2 different urologist since June 2010 and 1 gave me the drugs and the other said stay on the drugs but suggested I see a psychiatrist. I'm trying to see if their is a pill free solution 1st. That why I joined this website. I'll really look into therapy and thanks for responding.
Did this bladder problem START when you were in the 12th grade or are you saying that was when you put two and two together?
If you don't have this problem around family, it most likely is a type of phobia. In that case, therapy such as CBT would be extremely beneficial.
I would still advise having a complete urological exame........and, if it was me, I see a different doctor! Once you get a clean bill of health for any bladder issues, look into the therapy.
I can understand how this would be both embarrassing and disruptive to your studies.
You don't have to continue living with this if it's a phobia, therapy will help you find the root cause, face it, overcome it and most likely you won't need drugs to fix it.
I wish you the best possible outcome.
Peace
Greenlydia
If you don't have this problem around family, it most likely is a type of phobia. In that case, therapy such as CBT would be extremely beneficial.
I would still advise having a complete urological exame........and, if it was me, I see a different doctor! Once you get a clean bill of health for any bladder issues, look into the therapy.
I can understand how this would be both embarrassing and disruptive to your studies.
You don't have to continue living with this if it's a phobia, therapy will help you find the root cause, face it, overcome it and most likely you won't need drugs to fix it.
I wish you the best possible outcome.
Peace
Greenlydia
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