Suffering from social anxiety and irrational fear of wetting myself

I'm just wondering what treatment is out there for people who suffer from these things? It's got to the point where I get random panic attacks in public, feel like disappearing from a street full of people or on several occasions I got this intense feeling of crying and was close to crying for no reason in public...

And in lectures I keep worrying that I'm going to wet my pants if my bladder feels the slightest bit filled

Anyone else felt like this? Any advice? I considered counselling but I didn't fill in the form for an appointment in the end as you had to fill in quite a bit of your personal details :frown:

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Anyone?

Maybe go and see a doctor first? That's what I did, although I don't think my symptoms are as bad as what you're describing.

Reply 4

Sythal

This can be quite a common problem with people suffering from Anxiety, I know as I get the same issues myself. The best option would be to see your GP and talk to them about your problems they will probably refer you to a specialist who will assess your situation maybe starting treatment such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

Original post by MangoFreak

Maybe go and see a doctor first? That's what I did, although I don't think my symptoms are as bad as what you're describing.

Original post by Sythal

Thank you, but I heard the CBT appointment takes about 3 months and I'd be doign my dissertation then plus I'll be graduating in June and going back home :redface:

Reply 6

PraxxtorCruel

CBT is useless in my opinion, I've suffered with anxiety/depression for over a decade and nothing has helped. The point to my post is don't expect a magic wand to change you in a few days or weeks.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Original post by PraxxtorCruel

CBT is useless in my opinion, I've suffered with anxiety/depression for over a decade and nothing has helped. The point to my post is don't expect a magic wand to change you in a few days or weeks.

Did you have irrational fears like me though?

Do you think meds would work? :smile:

Reply 8

PraxxtorCruel

Original post by Anonymous

Did you have irrational fears like me though?

Do you think meds would work? :smile:

I know a few people who have said medication works, but ultimately makes 'em feel like crap after a while. I think you can also get hooked upon them or tend to rely on them too much which can be a bad thing. Oh yeah I also remember one person saying they felt like they were lifeless, they admitted the anxiety etc got a lot better but didn't feel human any longer. Dunno if I am making much sense.

Reply 9

binkey

If it's related to anxiety then a small dose of a beta-blocker taken once a day should help. It will not sort anxiety in your head, but anxiety in your head has affects on your body, you tighten up, adrenalin and cortisol are raised, and you can get panic-like symptoms.

Like all medications they come with countless side-affects, but I once used Half-Inderal 80mg (that's Propranalol)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol

It works almost instantaneously, literally within 20-30mins. Actors / Comedians / Artists sometimes use it for stage-fright.

I had zero affects that I could tell. If you are taking anti-depressants you have to be very carefull as I believe they are contra-indicated. And in fact, if you are using anti-depressants like Prozac you much leave a lengthy period, IIRC, about 4 weeks, before starting beta-blockers.

It's worth discussing with your GP. My high blood pressure and slightly erratic heartbeat, due to stress, went back to normal, 120/80 and 60bpm (resting) when I took them. It was remarkable.

Hope this helps and the best of luck in sorting out the problem.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 10

Anonymous #1

Original post by binkey

Sounds great! Thank you!! I just hope I don't get hooked on it :redface:

Reply 11

leavingsosoon?

Original post by Anonymous

hi im at uni too, and my a levels were almost ruined thro dehabilitating anxiety, i also have hang ups about the loo, if u wanna tlk just pm me

Reply 12

Anomaly11

Yep, you're not the only one. The bladder thing may well be a side-effect of the anxiety, so once you've got that under control, then it may get better in all respects. But it's the reason why I go to the loo every chance I get, and affects my seating choices (ie. in case I need to run out of the room pretty sharpish...) as well as my attitude to any kind of travelling. It's not fun, I agree, but the only suggestion I have is CBT - which is already a "no". My depression/anxiety-relieving tablets aren't doing much good in that area, sadly. Not that I've had the greatest experience with therapy either, but I've not tried CBT, so I can't say much about that one.

Best idea is to see your GP, and hope that they know what they're doing, basically. Good luck!

Reply 13

jeebob

I know this post is very old but I've been suffering from the exact same thing myself, over the years its become more difficult to leave the house for work/school or even just travelling due to social anxiety. I go to the toilet often because whenever I'm anxious I feel like I'm bursting for the loo but when I go nothing happens. The problem is that literally any situation outside of the house makes me feel anxious. I've spent years trying to avoid the problem but it's got so bad that my anxiety rules my life. Whenever anyone points out that I go to the toilet often I feel like they know and they're making fun of me.

Reply 14

username1339858_

Original post by jeebob

Sorry to hear this. Maybe take small steps. I haven't suffered from this exact problem, but did have trouble with something like anciety. I found exposure therapy type thing useful.
So for me personally, one issue was phones.
So I had/have a few points which I concentrate on in order...
1. Talking to someone i know on the phone
2. Talking to someone i know on the phone in front of others who know me
3. Talking to someone i know on the phone in front of those who don't know me
4. Conference call with people i know
5. Speaking to domeone i know relatively well (1st alone, then in front of people who know me, then in front if strsnger)
6. Repeat point five with a complete stranger

So you can try sometjing along these lines?^^

Personally, when it comes to fears and anxiety issues, avoid avoidance. Why? Becaus ethats accommodating the issues and your brain holds on to those things, e.g. if you have a fear if phone calls and avoid it, you'll associate phone calls with being avoided. So you'll get nowhere. And you'll get used to this and build that fear.

Take small small steps if needed.

Reply 15

jeebob

Thank you so much for replying, I start CBT very soon and am hoping to finally over come my anxiety and irrational fear.

Reply 16

username1339858_

Original post by jeebob

Thank you so much for replying, I start CBT very soon and am hoping to finally over come my anxiety and irrational fear.

Good luck. It's good to hear that you are getting help. Hope it goes well for you.

Reply 17

Elle919191

Hi jeebob, i know this post is old but i thought id reply on the off chance anyway. I am suffering in the same way. It feels as though i dont enjoy anything anymore because as soon as i think of doing anything that involves leaving the house, i am filled with fear. I also have an irrational fear of wetting myself. I have never wet myself before. Its like an unexplainable urge when im out and i start sweating and panicking as though i have totally lost control of my own body. This happens whether i have to go to the shop or even the doctors. I havent worked in 4 years because of this and i dont want this irrational fear to ruin my life anymore. Its inhibited me for too long now. Did you ever get any better? And if so would you mind telling me any tips you might have? Regardless of whether you're still active or not, i really hope you have found a way to manage this horrible condition

Reply 18

greggo22

Original post by Anonymous

get counselling. see doctor. stop being embarrassed by it.

Reply 19

jeebob

Hey Elle, sorry to hear you’ve been suffering from the same thing it had made my life a living hell!

I’m no where near cured but I’m a lot better than before, I’m able to go work and school now.

The best thing you could do would be to contact your GP for therapy. I did CBT and really helped although it can be hard to even tell another person about it.

I’ve realised that the whole wetting myself thought, is just an exaggerated symptom of anxiety. I found this info from another site :

-

Behaving anxiously activates the stress response. The stress response immediately causes specific physiological, psychological, and emotional changes in the body that enhance the body's ability to deal with a threat - to either fight with or flee from it - which is the reason the stress response is often referred to as the fight or flight response.

Part of the stress response changes include causing the body to eliminate waste so that we don't have to stop and use the washroom when in the midst of fighting with or fleeing from danger. Having an urgency to urinate is an example of this. This is why many people who are anxious or nervous have a sudden urge to pee.

-
Which makes sense right? it made me feel like I wasn’t going crazy hahah.

I also found that the more I push myself into social situations the less I have this whole anxiety.

Sorry for the long message but I hope this has helped in any way!