Urge to per during high anxiety

[Noideawhatpsudonym]

Well what a lovely embarrassing problem this is! Suffered anxiety for years, last two finally managed to more or less conquer it got a great job everything good. I have to do a lot of presentations at work. Years ago would have been my worst nightmare but have been coping great until… around a year ago I felt high anxiety and felt like my bladder/pelvic floor had gone offline. Couldn’t squeeze the muscles to help myself if I tried because it’s like total weakness down there. I didn’t pass urine just panicked I would and the urge went away with the anxiety. Fast forward to this week during a presentation I felt all anxious again (often feel a bit anxious during these things that’s normal but can control) but then again that same weird feeling like I could wet myself. In both situations my bladder was not full. I didn’t wet myself just absolutely panicked at the fear of it and had to leave the room. Didn’t even leave the room to pass urine. This is a purely fear based reaction and now I’m going over and over it. Panicking thinking what if I wet myself fully in front of my colleagues or friends. I bumped into a friend yesterday and it happened again there. So now I am obsessed with my bladder function. Never had this obsession in my 31 years on this planet and yet here we are. I’m not ready for incontinence products. Does anyone share this interesting fear/feeling during panic and if so have you had any advice about how to get over it? Feel like facing my fears would be the best thing. I’m guessing it’s unlikely to actually happen? I’ve ruled out uti

It's not an uncommon problem, just one that's not often discussed! That first incident set up a thought pattern of linking anxiety with the fear of wetting yourself and - even though it hasn't actually happened - it's become embedded in your mind as a threat and therefore pops up in stressful situations. Breathing exercises would help calm your mind and therefore your body and you could consider a couple of hypnotherapy sessions to break the link.

Hi op, I'm a psycho therapist and would be treating this as a panic disorder presentation, your feeling natural symptoms of anxiety, adrenaline does cause a feeling of needing a wee and then you mis interpret the symptom/feeling that you will wet yourself. You probably then avoid or go for a wee to feel reassured but then this continues the cycle. Cbt would be the recommended treatment good luck 😁

Thankyou both for your responses! Sarah I’m thinking of self referring for more cbt. I’ve been thinking exposure to feared situations with full bladder to prove I can hold it… but what if I can’t! It’s funny how anxiety can throw up new symptoms even after years of having it. I’m planning already how I will need to find a working from home job!

That's confusing. My name is also Sarah 😂

oh gosh really 😂 that is confusing!