any tips
I mean, the good thing is, your anatomy as a male makes it easier for you to go if you absolutely have to than a woman. I'm female and disabled with incontinence, so I absolutely have to think about where the bathroom is and the distance from wherever I am at all times. I'm not sure if you could incorporate the idea that you have options and that things could be much worse into your response preventions, but it's worth a shot. That's what exposure therapy is all about -- breaking the cycle of the fear and not giving it any power.
@kt.kate thank you— my main issue is when i’m travelling in a car etc and i just feel so bad about feeling this way constantly and i tried to do exposure therapy for quite a while but it always just keeps coming back worse and worse
@joshneedshelp What about the UTI do you think caused these thoughts? I hope that's not an intrusive question; please let me know if it is. UTIs are very treatable, and some people are prone to them. But the UTI you mentioned having over a year ago -- was there something specific that happened during that time that triggered something for you? Something that made it particularly awful?
@kt.kate i just remember the experience of needing to use ther bathroom constantly especially when travelling stressing to myself that i didn’t have access to any facilities and that feelings just stuck with me ever since
@joshneedshelp Sounds like it really messed with you. I'm sorry - that's rough. How often do you travel or go places where you don't already know where a restroom is? It helps me to plan my traveling out, to that I'm going to stop at xyz (gas station, McDonald's, or a rest area) along the way. Or if it's just a new place, to scope it out as soon as I get there, even if I have to ask, to know where the restroom is if/when I need it. Doing these things give me peace of mind.
@kt.kate i mean i’ve tried doing things like that it’s more that i’m so tired of living with it- i just wish i didn’t have these feelings constantly when i go out as im not able to enjoy my day to day life with it
@joshneedshelp I totally get it...I wish I didn't have to live with some of my stuff too. I will say, you're in the perfect situation to not only imagine your fear but to fully recreate it. Maybe take a 15 minute drive in one direction, and when they feelings surface, just sit with them. Think about the worst that can happen. It could be that you do 15 minutes one week and 20 minutes the next, or some variation. A UTI won't occur if you're holding it for 15 minutes, and this is a controlled environment (not going on a long trip for real). And if it becomes too much, go back home. Then try again (and again) until you're more comfortable with that fear, and then it gradually starts to fade. You'll have to be intentional with it. That's my best advice. Talk it through with your therapist too so you have the proper support. They can help guide you so you're not ruminating as long too. Also, look into Inhibitory Learning Theory (ILT) treatment and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT). One of them may help you more - alone or in conjunction with ERP.
Hey. So I’ve been experiencing a lot of anxiety with my bladder. Every time I urinate I feel the need to completely empty my bladder and it has to feel “just right” so I’ll sit on the toilet for more than 10 min straining every last drop out. And then on the other hand I’ll hold in my pee for a long time because I dread going to the bathroom knowing I’ll take a long time. I’ve also noticed I’m getting bloated more often and this in turn makes it harder to get the rest of my pee out. I’m worried that I’m causing health issues with my bladder so I’m thinking of seeking medical advice. Has anyone else had similar issues?
Hi I’m new to this group. I’ve had ocd and very bad anxiety disorder since I was a kid and only got progressively worse as I grew up. I’m 26 now. I had some somatic/sensorimotor ocd while growing up and feeling or worrying about health concerns that aren’t actually there… anyway about 5 weeks ago I randomly started feeling like I had to go pee all the time? I don’t have any pain or anything just the horrible constant feeling like I need to go pee. I’ve gotten checked for a uti multiple times. My pcp suspects it could be being exacerbated by the anxiety because it’s so distressing to me it’s almost all I think about. My ocd has convinced myself that I now have some chronic bladder problem. I notice it’s not as bad at night when I’m relaxed (thanks to medication) and about to fall asleep. I just am so scared that it’s never going to go away and I’m going to have to deal with this for the rest of my life and I can’t do that…. Was just wondering if anyone else ever dealt with this symptom? I know our brains are powerful but sometimes it just feels so real. 😣😣
I’m going out on a double date tomorrow with the guy I’m speaking to. I’m deathly afraid of peeing myself. Last time I went out with him and my friends it felt like I was going to (the feelings/sensations weren’t there all the time, only when I wasn’t distracted) and recently the feeling that I might pee myself is worse than ever before. It’s like with my anxiety nausea (I also have a fear of being sick in public) but instead of just nausea, it’s the sensation of possibly peeing myself too. The sensation of it is scary even if I went to the bathroom 10 minutes before. I keep getting images in my mind of me accidentally peeing myself and the guy I’m speaking to leaving me because he thinks I’m a weirdo😭 Does anyone else experience this? Or have any tips on how to manage it?😭
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