Shy bladder syndrome (paruresis) is a social anxiety disorder that makes it difficult or impossible to urinate (pee) in public restrooms or with people nearby. People with shy bladder avoid using toilets that aren't in their homes.
In severe cases, it's a life-altering disability. I suspect there are more sufferers out there than one would imagine, but shame keeps them quiet. Dear Reader: Shy bladder syndrome is a social anxiety disorder that makes it difficult -- or even impossible -- for an individual to urinate when someone else is present.
After Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be effective in about 85 out of 100 people, and along with drug therapy, shy bladder can often be controlled.
Since paruresis impairs bladder and brain functions, which are major bodily functions, paruresis qualifies as a disability under the ADA.
That's because being near other people causes your sphincter muscles to lock up. Those muscles control the flow of urine from your bladder. Once they freeze up, you simply can't pee. It can happen in a public restroom, a bathroom in someone else's home, and even in your own place if other folks are nearby.
Howard Stern has publicly admitted he suffers from the disorder and it's a subject that the Dear Abby advice column has addressed repeatedly. Other celebrities who have been linked to paruresis are Orlando Bloom, Howie Mandel, and Alan Bennett.
Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft) Alpha-adrenergic blockers to relax your bladder muscles, like tamsulosin (Flomax) Medications used to relieve urinary retention, such as bethanechol (Urecholine)
Needing to urinate right after you've just gone is not only annoying but can be a sign of an underlying health problem. While this is commonly related to drinking a lot of water or taking medication, sometimes, it could mean something more serious like an infection or diabetes.
How Does Anxiety Cause Bladder and Bowel Problems? People who feel stressed or anxious often find themselves having to use the toilet for urinary urgency more often. This is because stress triggers a response in our body that discharges stress hormones into the bloodstream.
While your brain is focusing on these vital organs, it's less focused on functions such as bladder control. For some people, this means feeling the urge to urinate but for others, it can mean having difficulty urinating.
Cranberries – You may be surprised by this one because many people believe cranberry juice is good for the bladder, helping to relieve symptoms of urinary tract infections. But like tomatoes and citrus fruits, these tart fruits are acidic and can be bladder-irritating.
Each time the urge to urinate occurs, the person should try to delay urination for 5 minutes if possible. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, may help. People should gradually increase the holding time until there are 3 to 4 hour gaps between bathroom visits.
It's common for those who are overly stressed and anxious to have nights where they are up every hour or so going to the washroom. The more stressed and stimulated the body becomes, the more of a problem frequent urination can become.
You may pass urine more often than usual because of: Infection, disease, injury or irritation of the bladder. A condition that causes your body to make more urine. Changes in muscles, nerves or other tissues that affect how the bladder works.
Paruresis refers to the difficulty or inability to initiate or sustain micturition where individuals are present (eg a public restroom) because of overwhelming fear of perceived scrutiny. Paruresis reportedly affects between 2.8% and 16.4% of the population.
A urologist will be able to assess the persons overall physical condition, discuss the occurrences of shy bladder, suggest voiding behavioral changes, and determine if medical interventions are required (prescriptions medications or possible catheterization).
Paruresis is a Type of Social Anxiety
For about 21 million Americans, roughly 7% of the general population, urination causes great worry and inconvenience. They have developed a condition called paruresis also known as shy bladder syndrome, pee shyness, or bashful bladder.
The Impact of Stress on the Bladder
And it's thought that the adrenaline pumping through you triggers your need to pee. So, there's definitely a link between what's going on in your brain (fear, anxiety, etc) and what might be coming out of your bladder. Anxiety and stress can cause you to urinate more frequently, too.
People who regularly ignore the urge to pee may feel pain or discomfort in the bladder or kidneys. When a person finally does reach the bathroom, urinating may also hurt. The muscles may also stay partially clenched after the release of urine, which can lead to pelvic cramps.
This also applies to normal urinary frequency. For most people, the normal number of times to urinate per day is between 6 – 7 in a 24 hour period. Between 4 and 10 times a day can also be normal if that person is healthy and happy with the number of times they visit the toilet.