Anxiety around urination. Has anything helped?

[SeekingYourAdvice]

Hi there. I've set up a new account to post this, in the hope someone can share some advice on what's helped you...

I have what has become quite severe anxiety around the issue of urination and a lack of (or perceived lack of) access to a toilet.

This started 8 years ago when I was flying alone and got stuck in a long airport security queue. I knew I couldn't move forward or back and felt I needed a wee. I got so desperate that I started to feel faint so left the queue and begged security to let me use a toilet. The situation was definitely worsened by being a lone female traveller in a Middle Eastern country, where the men on security found it hilarious and loved seeing me squirm. I had a huge panic attack and burst into tears and couldn't breathe. At this point they let me use the staff toilet.

I've struggled ever since with feelings of panic at the thought of needing a wee and not being able to access a toilet. I go through better patches and bad patches. I'm going through a bad patch again, and when I'm like this it affects me in queues, meetings, car journeys, plane/train journeys, long walks, meetings at work etc etc.

To give you an idea of how my brain works, I was on a train journey at the weekend and there was only one toilet. I felt a huge fear over it breaking and becoming out of order, or someone locking themself in for ages to avoid paying for a ticket, so went for a wee 4 times in 2 hours as a 'just in case' measure.

It's taking over my life and I'm exhausted by it.

There's a nice opportunity at work to do a bit of travel and I just can't even contemplate it at the minute. Flying with colleagues and driving and catching trains from A to B and being in meetings - they'd think I was mad with my requirement to wee every 30-45 mins (I usually don't even need to go by the way - it's all in my head).

I've tried hypnotherapy, CBT, talking therapy and Propranolol. I've been given Citalopram, but it made me off the charts anxious and I had to bail after 2 days.

Can anyone relate and has anything helped you?

Thanks

I am similiar but have bladder issues due disability, so the upside is I get to use the accessible toilets! Some are locked but you can obtain a radar key and a 'can't wait card's. But I think the best thing is to get some urinary incontinence pants, these days they are very slim and absorb a big wee if the worst happens. This will give you confidence. You could also investigate training your bladder. Dont turn down tge chance tontravel.