Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Should Be Done For Frequent Urination Without Urgency Due To Anxiety?
Question: Hello , Male 26 here from Chennai. I have this immense fear of urinating in public. I have had it for last 7~9 years. It actually started from an incident when i urinated in public without an option for a toilet near by. No one noticed that time except a shop keeper, he only tried to convince me its ok. but that stayed with me as fear. I passed my college days by running to restroom between every hours. i am scared to take long bus travels as they don't have bathrooms. I am scared to attend long meetings.i am scared to take long travels if not in train or flight because it has facility. It always has been a hurdle for me.even when i am at a mall with a girl or friends i use rest room quite frequently. Even if its a 10 mins journey i go 2 time before entering the vehicle.. I created a 1.5 hours time gap between the rest room during my college days. Now i feel its also not working in my mind. I checked about this with my family doctor in past.. he told its just a fear and it will go off by age.. but it doesn't seems to. I have many dreams in my life.but this fear or disease or whatever it is is a big hurdle. Please advice what i should do on this.
Brief Answer:
Please do bladder training
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for sending in your query.
Urinating in public is a nuisance and should be avoided unless its too urgent a situation. Your problem of frequently visiting rest rooms even when there is no urgency can be related to anxiety which is adapted to frequent urination. Also, those with anxiety are more prone to focusing on different sensations unintentionally. There are often times when you may feel the need to urinate slightly but your body has no problem ignoring the feeling and holding it back. With anxiety, it's possible that your brain is focused on the sensation, potentially causing you to feel like you need to urinate more than you do.
The simplest method of treating your condition would be bladder training. The aim is to train the bladder to hold urine longer and thus urinate less often. It involves increasing the period between visits to the toilet to empty the bladder and is done gradually over two to three months. For this you need to take your mind off your urinary urges and concentrate on the activity you are doing.
To begin with please try your best to make a 1.5 hrs gap which you created in college days. Slowly, over each week you can lengthen the time gap by 15 minutes. Try not visiting the toilet before a 10 minute journey and see what happens.
It is important to know if you have frequent urination even during night time. If yes then you may limit your water intake at night and visit the washroom once just before going to bed.
I hope this helps.
Do write back in case of doubts.
Dr.A.Rao Kavoor
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor,
Thanks for your quick help.
I know its just an anxiety but still not able control. If i didnt go to restroom before the travel i will be dying of anxiety and tension all the way until i reach the destination. No matter how hard i try i just cant get the thought of it out of my brain.i have noticed ,If my mind is aware that there is restroom near by , i wouldnt even goto the rest room like 3 to 4 hours. The same at night, while sleeping i dont use the toilet at all until morning. I was thinking more of a quick solution like counseling or hypnosis treats. I have these great opportunities coming up in Europe countries. I just don't want to destroy it with this trouble.I dont even go out more.. only because of this one reason.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
If you have been able to control your urges at night and in the day if you find yourself in the vicinity of a washroom, I don't think you have any physical problems to be addressed with your bladder control.
Regarding travel, there might be many pay and use toilets in your city which you cans use in urgency. Most offices and public places are also equipped with washroom facilities. Try to train your mind that "there is always a washroom nearby" when travelling locally. As a precaution use wash room once just before leaving home and avoid drinking plenty of water within about half an hour before you are scheduled to leave. This is a kind of mind training exercise and can help suppress your overactive bladder.
In all trains and many of the newer types of long distance luxury buses, there are closet facilities and it's hardly an inconvenience should you get your bladder full in few hours time.
Hypnosis is not well suited for the problems you are facing though counseling and cognitive behavior therapy might help. This requires consultation with a qualified psychologist in your city and might take a few sessions.
Do not loose opportunities just because of your heightened anxiety towards having a full bladder. It may not happen in one day but through two or three months and with positive thinking, you will surely get back to normal.
I hope this helps.
Do write back in case of doubts.
Dr.A.Rao Kavoor
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
