frequent urination from anxiety anyone?

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here.

I'm a 47 year old guy w/ Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

For over a year,I have been seeing a (highly rated) Urologist because I have a problem in which I need to urinate probably over 20 times per day. And I should add that I'm not one drinking water all day from a bottle like many I know.

I have had many diagnostic tests and 2 surgical procedures done with still no improvement. I am going for a second opinion w/ another doc in a month.

I know, after reading much, much information out there(and as told by the doctor) that anxiety plays a major role in this problem.

I could explain further, but don't want to turn this into a very long post.

Question: Is there anyone else out there who has/is going through the same problem? What helped? & Did the problem eventually go away(how long?) ?

Thank you!

Mike

Hi magad687. Welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you have physical challenges that might be related to anxiety. Some other people are discussing similar stuff here. https://forums.psychcentral.com/anxi...-symptoms.html

If you are taking medications, ask your pharmacist if any of those might aggravate the physical condition.

Hope this helps.

Hello Mike: I'm afraid I can't really shed much light on this. I certainly have struggled with plenty of anxiety over the years. And I'm running back-&-forth to the bathroom regularly. But I'm an old codger. And I've had some prior surgical stuff that has an impact on my situation.

Since this is your first post here on PC... to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

Anxiety can play a role in frequent urination urges and trips. But I think there are other factors to consider besides anxiety alone.

Are you on Lithium?

I have developed "Diabetes Insipidus". It means I have to urinate frequently - and I drink excessive amounts of water which in turn makes things worse.

Hi, Welcome to PC It sounds like you've had the full medical work-up. Peeing a lot is so annoying (I do it, too). Anxiety and frequent urination are definitely related for me.

I don't have this problem with my anxiety but wanted to welcome you to PC and wish you good luck in nailing down the problem. My anxiety causes other physical symptoms but not that.

Yes, I've had issues with this my whole life (at least from after childhood). And I'm sorry you are experiencing this, because I know it sucks
About 7 years ago I went to see an Urologist, had tests done, measuring quantity and frequency of urination etc...He gave me some medication that's more for incontinence, which I don't have, used it for a while, no effect (only side effects lol), then stopped.
I feel the need very frequently but I think I learned to live with it (and somehow hope that some day it will go away). It's like, when I think about if I need to pee, 99% I feel I need to. If I don't think about it's better.
It's considerably worse before some event or something when I know I won't be able to go. Also before something stressful or meaningful.
Also when I go to bed, then it's the worst, I need to go very shortly before I'll fall asleep, otherwise I'll go again and again.
Anyway, as I said above, I've learned to accept this and what helps me is telling myself that whatever happens, I will find a solution (or a toilet )...

You've just described my situation exactly (except I chickened out of the examination at the urologist). My doctor gave me some medication which only gave me side effects as well so stopped taking those. Pelvic floor physiotherapy helped a little.
If I can't sleep, I'll have to pee several times. Long bus journeys are a nightmare

I've never heard of pelvic floor physiotherapy. It's interesting, how did you find out about that? Is it done by regular physiotherapists or something special?

And yeah, I prefer trains also Or buses which have toilets. I guess I've integrated this issue in my life so much that I'm not really aware of how it restricts me...but yeah, I don't want to see it that way, too depressing...maybe it will get better after I'll sort out my anxiety issues. If ever.

My doctor sent me. It's a specialized thing, not from a regular physiotherapist. It can help when you have problems relaxing those muscles. When they're always tense, it creates the feeling of needing to pee all the time. Or if you can't relax properly when you're peeing, there'll be leftovers But if that were the case for you it would've showed in the urologist's examination I think. Plus you would have a higher risk of getting a UTI.
I should probably try doing some of thos exercises again.

I still prefer trains. Even if buses have toilets, they're usually very, very gross Not thet they're nice on trains, but not as bad as buses. And ugh, the smell!! I survived my last bus ride by just not drinking anything, just a few small sips of water. But I'm used to drinking quite a lot so that's not a great solution either.

Thanks for the reply.

Not to pry, but do you mind me asking you approximately how many times per day that you pee? Example: over 10, over 20, or other. I only ask because I'm trying to relate it to my problem. thanks

I think I have experienced more anxiety than most peoole on this site. Yes it leads to frequent urination. Eventually it also leads to chest pains.

Oh my Gosh. So me.

Regardless of what I drink, I go hourly. More so if before a stressful event or I start getting panicky about not being able to go for some reason. I've restricted a lot of trips and experiences because I was too afraid. I've been too ashamed to bring this up with my mental health team so thank you for posting.

Family, friends, co-workers have all made fun of me for this and my 'tiny bladder'. I'm currently starting therapy aimed specifically at my anxiety so if anything I learn provides relief, I'll let you know. Best of luck to you!

Uh, hard to say. I think between 10-20 but it depend on a million things...For example before therapist apointment I cannot stop peeing. This is another aspect, when extremely anxious I feel I cannot get up the toiet.

Some anti-anxiety medications have given me urinary incontinence. If you take anything make sure your perscribing doctor knows.

I don't have frequent urination, as much as intensity. I'll sometimes have to go very suddenly and I'll go a lot. But I think I just go an average number of times. I don't drink much water. I was on Lithium for 7 years, and it did damage to my kidneys. So I think that might be my problem. A few nights ago, I woke up 3 times and I had to go so bad each time, I just barely made it all 3 times. I didn't have anything to drink since about 6 that evening. I'm in my 20's, so I don't think it's anything to worry about.

For me, it's only when I'm extremely anxious. But this happened mainly before I went on medication a few years ago. I had this on class (French) where I was so anxious about it because I can't really speak french and I didn't want to be called on so I'd always ask to go to the washroom because of major anxiety. If I am really anxious now, I will need to go to the bathroom but it's not as common now. I've gotten better at managing my anxiety.