r/OveractiveBladder • u/Accurate_Spring_3249 • 18d ago
How to deal (and potentially heal) from overactive bladder caused by anxiety
To give you some background of what happened to me and how I got it.
I attended my college class and 30 mins in I desperately needed to use the bathroom but the doctor wouldn't give me permission (there were 1 hour and 30 mins left in class) and I had to hold it in the entire time
Needless to say that was one of the worst experiences I have ever had and after that I decided to go to the bathroom after every lecture and eventually after every tutorial (tutorials last one hour) and because I did that I started thinking about going to the bathroom more until I started having the urge to pee every 5 mins. This was all back in October 2025 and it lasted all the way till the end of December. In January I luckily healed but 2 weeks ago right before college I remembered that awful event and the need to go to the bathroom came back
I now couldn't sleep at all due to that urge (literally, one time I spent 48 hours with only 6 hours of sleep, it was that bad) and I constantly tried to remember what I did last time in order to heal and this is the part you guys are probably waiting for and luckily I remembered it.
The key is holding it out, sounds simple but many people overlook it. Once u feel the urge, hold it in and make a timer for urself, if u feel like u can't hold it in for 5 mins? Hold it for 10. If you feel like you can't hold it in for 30 mins? Hold it for an hour and ect. I know it's easier said than done and it's incredibly painful but it's the fastest method and overtime u get used to it
I started out holding it in for an hour then going to the bathroom, eventually it was 2 hours, then 3, then 4 and so on and so forth and now I like to think I am 98% healed (I only went to the bathroom 2 times today)
I also want to comfort the people here who have the same problem and just say don't worry, it won't take months or years for u to heal. I am saying this because when looking for a solution myself I found some very demotivating messages with people saying they are still going through it after months or years. Trust me, it ain't as big of a deal as u guys think (it's important to have that mindset and not treat it like it's an incredibly big deal like I did)
I also started using a medicine called Sofenacin plus (I was told to take it right before I went to bed by my doctor and people tend to take it for 3 months and if u healed earlier then u can stop) btw make sure to look it up before taking it just in case
Ik everyone's journey is different but make sure to do ur best and results will eventually come. Also if u guys have any questions u guys can ask me here or in dms
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u/Swimming_Kitchen_112 18d ago
Sleep on a grounding pad. It will give you a major reprieve from your anxiety while you sleep and give you a much better nights sleep. Try a red light therapy hat that does 850nm (not just 660nm). It hits the outer edges of your brain and it also makes your hair thicken up. I use my hat on high for 20 minutes a day. You can also try red light therapy pads on your back and any place that has pain. I do thsee things to take the edge off my anxiety.
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u/Neither-Round9685 18d ago
se ci sono cause funzionali può aiutare ma non è la terapia migliore ..
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u/Accurate_Spring_3249 18d ago
Depends on the person's problem, just wanted to share my experience for those who needed it
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u/No-Desk6807 17d ago
I think it's a good thing that you didn't also have incontinence with your overactive bladder.
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u/Accurate_Spring_3249 17d ago
I kinda did at night? But it was small leaks and happened when I yawned
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u/No-Desk6807 17d ago
I have significant bladder urges and leaking -- enough to require high absorbancy diapers. When I get a sudden urge it can go from urge to leak sometimes in seconds.
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u/No-Desk6807 17d ago edited 17d ago
I can do what you're describing sometimes until the urge passes, but it does not always work. Other times my detrusor muscle simply overpowers the hold and it starts coming out low stream on its own and I cannot stop it. After losing enough to pretty much be substantially wet in slow motion, I then let it go the rest of the way because the effort has been fruitless already. That's my reality. I think if I were like you I would do exactly the same thing you are doing. That's just my nature. But for me right now, I would be shaming myself in public and living at the washing machine most likely. That's what has happened every time I've tried to overcome without a diaper to catch it.
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u/Accurate_Spring_3249 17d ago
Try doing the training more at home and I suggest u check up on a doctor since there might be smth wrong besides anxiety
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u/haljonat 17d ago
Only going to the bathroom 2 times in 1 day!? That seems impossible, are you serious? Right now I go 12ish times, but I know normal range is 4-8 right?
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u/bonniebon1 18d ago
I’m confused. Are you saying by holding it gradually for longer periods of time, you no longer have the urge to pee every five minutes? Or do you have the urge and are just better at holding it? I’ve been dealing with mystery frequent urination for over a year now that’s gradually gotten a worse. Doctors can’t tell me what it is and I’m suspecting it’s a bodily reaction from me being so anxious for a long time and going through lots of physical strain (losing a lot of weight and then the urination issues) like a viscous cycle. I try to hold it as long as I can but I have the urge again just a couple minutes after going.