Can Anxiety Cause Frequent Urination? All You Need to Know
Anxiety can manifest in a variety of physical symptoms, and one relatively common sign is frequent urination. Uncomfortable as it may be, an understanding of its causes alongside some proactive coping strategies could help you get back on track to living life fully again!
What is Frequent Urination?
Frequent urination, also known as frequent micturition, is a condition characterized by an urgent need to urinate more frequently than normal. It can be caused by anxiety or other underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or urinary tract infections. The urge to constantly go to the bathroom can be quite disruptive and may even lead to sleep deprivation.
When a person feels anxious, their body may react with physical symptoms such as frequent urination. This is because when a person is anxious, their heart rate and breathing speed up, and their muscles may tense up – all of which can result in an increased need to use the restroom. Additionally, hormone imbalances due to stress can also cause frequent urination.
Frequent urination can affect people of all ages and genders; however, women are more likely to experience it due to problems with their reproductive system or during pregnancy. Similarly, young children may find themselves needing to go more often if they have difficulty controlling their bladder muscles. In either case, it is important for those affected by frequent urination to seek medical help in order to determine the root cause of the issue and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Aside from medication or lifestyle changes that a doctor might recommend for treating this condition, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or yoga may also be beneficial for reducing anxiety levels and providing relief from frequent urination.
How to improve Frequent Urination from Anxiety
If you are experiencing frequent urination from anxiety, there are several strategies you can use to manage and stop this symptom. Some of these strategies include:
One way to improve frequent urination caused by anxiety is to practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and yoga can help to reduce anxiety levels and calm racing thoughts.
Deep breathing: it can be done anywhere and requires the person to focus on their breath, slowly inhaling and exhaling in a steady rhythm.
Progressive muscle relaxation: it involves tensing and then relaxing each muscle group one at a time for a few seconds before moving on to the next.
Meditation: it helps to clear the mind of anxious thoughts and brings about feelings of calmness and clarity.
Yoga: is a great way to reduce anxiety in general but it has the additional benefit of helping strengthen the pelvic floor, a weak pelvic floor is in many cases the culprit for increased urination so addressing that using yoga may be a great way to improve your symptoms.
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps people recognize their thought patterns and how those patterns may be negatively affecting them. Through sessions with a therapist, people can learn new behaviors that can help them cope with their anxiety in a healthy way. This includes learning how to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with more positive ones. It also involves developing skills such as problem-solving and mindfulness so that someone can better manage their anxiety in stressful situations. CBT has proven effective in helping people alleviate physical symptoms related to anxiety, including frequent urination.
Bladder training: it’s a powerful way to take control of urinary function, allowing you to feel empowered and regain confidence. With the help of your healthcare provider – or through self-help programs available online – by gradually increasing the time between urination intervals as well as urine capacity retention, bladder health can be greatly improved.
Finally, it’s important for someone experiencing frequent urination due to anxiety to make sure they are getting the right amount of sleep. A lack of sleep can increase feelings of stress, making it harder for someone to manage their emotions when faced with challenging situations throughout the day. Aiming for seven or eight hours of restful sleep each night can help restore energy levels and reduce feelings of stress or anxiousness throughout the day which may help lessen episodes of frequent urination due to anxiety.
