Shy bladder or paruresis is a condition where a person is unable to urinate in the presence of others. A person with Paruresis finds it hard or not able to urinate in presence of other people around. Anxiety causes muscle tension and makes relaxation of the sphincter muscles impossible. It is a medical condition affecting many people of people worldwide. Those suffering from this phobia often live uncomfortable, with confined lives. Some deny the feeling of worrying in public. Since the topic is hardly talked about, many people suffer in silence. Here are some ways on how to get rid of bladder shyness
Drugs
The most widely used drugs are those designed to reduce anxiety and depression. People suffering from shy bladder can benefit from use of drug therapy. The use of antidepressants helps lower anxiety so that therapy can begin to work. It should be noted that drug therapy for shy bladder has not been demonstrated to work well. The drug does not teach any skills but only helps contain the symptoms.
Some Doctors recommend the use of a catheter tube inserted up the urethra and into the bladder to drain urine which can help the person suffering from shy bladder syndrome.
Group support
Group support is the participation in group meetings where the person is exposed to other people suffering from the same syndrome. The meetings provide an opportunity for people to share personal experiences and feelings about their journey.
Participating in a group provides you with an opportunity to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and likely to understand one another. The group offers the benefit of togetherness, empowerment and learning skills to cope with fear.
Knowing that you are not alone in your struggles can have a positive effect on your well-being and mental health. It takes courage to open up and share when you feel vulnerable, but the benefits are numerous.
Breath Holding Technique
This technique is thought to work because an increase in carbon dioxide in the bloodstream has been reported to reduce anxiety and induce relaxation in some patients. Paruresis breath-hold technique is an easy breathing technique. It works on the theory that, if you holding breath for long enough, the person will be able to urinate.
Science says that the slow breathing helps relieve the anxiety in the body and lets you calm down and release urine. Paruresis breath-hold technique help to relax the pelvic muscles to the point where you can release the flow, this gives a little confidence to ease and calm your mind which can reduce the anxiety.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
This is a type of a talk therapy that point at improving dysfunctional emotions, behavior, and thoughts. CBT helps you become conscious of negative thoughts so you can see challenging circumstances with clarity and react to them more successfully.
This method is the preferred type of psychotherapy as it can easily help point out and cope with particular challenges. It takes fewer meetings than other types of therapy and is done in an organized way.
This aspect of CBT is founded on the saying that knowledge is power. The more someone knows about their disorder, the better equipped they will be to recognize its symptoms and do something about it.
Graduated Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment that was started to help people challenge their fears. When people are afraid of something, they try to avoid the feared things, activities or circumstances. The goal is to boost the person’s reactions to the stimulus.
It is a step-by-step program that involves purposely trying to urinate in more difficult places.
It involves gradually using restrooms in increasingly difficult circumstances and is usually performed under the supervision of a trained behavioral therapist.
In conclusion
Shy bladder is a temporary condition that can be controlled. With assurance that this situation is common and with the right help, most people with this challenge can get relief.
Avoiding negative thoughts while having the urge to urinate can help the person overcome fear. Graduated exposure therapy is said to be more successful especially if done regularly – even better if you use hypnosis alongside it.
The person suffering from the condition needs help especially from close friends and family.
