Shy Bladder Cure

Shy bladder, known medically as paruresis, is an anxiety disorder characterized by the inability to urinate when desired and a fear of public urination.There is no specific cause, although possibilities for its development include traumatic incidents or a variety of pathophysiological issues. A variety of methods exist to treat the condition. Although paruresis is not in itself serious, it can have severe emotional and psychological impacts and can limit your day-to-day activities.

Catherization and Medication

• The most immediate and effective way to control a shy bladder is through self-catheterization. This involves the insertion of a narrow plastic tube up through the urethra until it enters the bladder. The urine then drains out through the tube. According to UrologyHealth.org, self-catheterization is not difficult to learn, though the catheter can be painful to insert. In some cases, it is a better choice than the continuing disruption to daily life that paruresis causes.

  Although no studies exist to prove their efficacy, anti-anxiety medications or anti-depressants have been used to treat those who suffer from a shy bladder. These are only beneficial when the cause of your paruresis is anxiety or an anxiety-related disorder.

Therapeutic Techniques

• Attacking the root cause of your paruresis, be it fear or anxiety, through therapeutic techniques can help you end shy bladder problems.

  Graduated exposure therapy involves exposing yourself to situations where your shy bladder syndrome may occur, and slowly increasing the intensity of these situations. For example, you may start in a private bathroom with one trusted person standing outside the closed door. Once you have successfully urinated in that situation, you let that person into the bathroom with you. Gradually, you can work your way up to urinating in a public bathroom with strangers present. This method is highly effective; according to Better Health Channel, it is successful for up to 80% of paruresis sufferers. Graduated exposure therapy is especially helpful when shared with others who experience the same problem.

  Relaxation therapies like yoga or meditation can help ease your anxiety and reduce stress.

  Psychotherapy can help you focus on the present rather than on painful events from the past.

  Cognitive behavior therapy can help you change your thinking and behavioral patterns so that you can focus on the positive instead of the negative and alleviate tension and anxiety in your life.