Anxiety Urination Urgency

[bluehorn7]

I'm 22 years old, and for the last 9 months I've been having trouble with urination urgency. I get strong feelings that I NEED to go pee, even when I really don't need to. When I'm around the house, or at a place that I have easy access to a bathroom I don't really get the feeling, unless I start to dwell on whether or not I have to pee. I really get it when I'm in a situation where a bathroom is unaccessable or it would be akward to get to, like while driving with other people or in class. I have been tested for a UTI, STDs and for prostate problems with no problems found. I think that this is an anxiety related issue. Does anyone have any suggestions or help. I'm getting pretty desperate as its making it hard to live my life.

[nnrc]

Hi, I've had the same sxs.  Psychotherapy can be an effective tx for anxiety-related urgency.  Tx can consist of recognizing the triggers that cause your anxiety, particularly the thoughts and feelings associated with urgency ("Oh no! There's no bathroom here).  Try distracting yourself by engaging in an activity such as exercising, reading, tv, etc. and see if the sxs diminish.  Also, think about your own feelings related to "control" and what that means to you in your life.  Anxiety-related urgency can be seen as a primitive attempt to establish control in your life when things are stressful and anxiety provoking.  Also, ask yourself if there are any thoughts or feelings about yourself, others, etc. that the feeling of urgency may distract you from or replace.  Yeah it's cliche psychobabble... but it works.  Good luck.

[nnrc]

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[bluehorn7]

I've tried vesicare and ditropan, but neither worked. I don't think that my pelvic muscles are tense, as I don't have any urination urgency when I'm not worried about it. I'm pretty sure that by now this is entirely in my head. Does anyone have any suggestions for medical help, mental excercises or counseling?

[dibren102]

Hi bluehorn7.  This is exactly how my anxiety started, for some unknown reason I justed started to pass urine more frequently, along with all the burning sensations that come with it.  This is been going on for over 3 months.  There is a medication that you can get called Ditropan another one is Vesicare(which I havent used)  which will stop the symptons. I was using it until going onto Anti depressants but if you dont need to go there thats all the better.  Do you know if your pelvic muscles are tense, thats what my problem is and no matter what I do I cant untense them.  It is related to anxiety and a specialist wouldnt look at me until I got my anxiety under control, which he said would fix the problem.  Its a bit like what comes first the chicken or the egg, especially since this caused it all in the first place.
You could try a muscle relaxant to see if that helps, but you also need tobe aware that if this is due to anxiety you may have other symptons and this is just one of them.  Good luck and God Bless you in your journey to good health.