As human beings, we have basic needs like hunger, thirst and the need to release urine, but what happens when you just can’t do it? More than 20 million Americans report having something called shy bladder, in medical terms this is known as paruresis.
Your muscles freeze and suddenly you physically can’t urinate, no matter how hard you try! We’ll tell you what’s shy bladder and how to get rid of shy bladder.
What Is Shy Bladder?
If you want to know how to get rid of shy bladder then you must know that there is nothing wrong with your urinary system. The problem arrives when you feel anxious about urinating, this can be because you feel that other people might be watching you or because you don’t feel comfortable where you are.
Shy bladder is associated with a form of social phobia or social anxiety, as it only happens when other people are making you feel uncomfortable and you literally can’t release the urine from your body. The fact that you physically can’t pee only makes you even more nervous about it.
What Are Some Common Behaviors And Symptoms Of Shy Bladder?
The main symptom is the impossibility to pee around other people, but here is a more detailed list of other common symptoms and behaviors:
Avoiding certain social situations for fear of having to urinate in public.Drinking less water and other fluids before a social event.Always looking for empty bathrooms.Using the bathroom at your house right before leaving your house.Increased fear, sweaty palms, and fast heart rate at the thought of having to urinate in front of other people.Avoiding urinals at all costs.
These habits are common to those who suffer from shy bladder, and they increase every time the person has to go to the bathroom. After it happens to you the first time, then you begin worrying about it and develop performance anxiety.
Why Does It Happen?
Since it’s a form of social phobia, there are many psychological and biological factors involved. If you used to be teased or harassed by others when you were using the bathroom this can affect you for fear of humiliation. Genetics plays a role if you have a family history of anxiety disorders.
The lack of privacy and the people that are around you also affects shy bladder, because if you are not familiar with someone and you feel there is not enough privacy your anxiety will increase and won’t be able to urinate.
Is There A Treatment?
I’m sure you want to learn how to get rid of shy bladder. First you want to make sure that your urinary system is fine, so it’s recommended that you visit a urologist, if things seem normal then you can try other options. Since it’s a form of social phobia then you will need to visit a mental health specialist. They will examine you and determine if you have shy bladder.
Once they diagnose you, you will most likely receive a form cognitive behavior therapy known as graduated exposure, where your doctor will slowly expose you into the situation that’s causing you anxiety. This way your anxiety levels on your brain can slowly go down.
If your social phobia is too big, the doctor might prescribe you with anxiety-relieving medications or antidepressants. Medications will always be accompanied by sessions of cognitive behavior therapy. An estimated 85 out of 100 people see good results after 6 to 12 sessions of cognitive behavior therapy.
This condition can affect people’s lives in different ways, be sure to check with a mental health professional and stop worrying about going to the bathroom.
One other option – cheap, easy, totally discrete and highly effective – is to use hypnosis to help sort out your shy bladder.
