How often are you needing a nervous wee? Is your bladder controlling your life?

Typical bladder function

When the bladder fills with urine, it stretches

This triggers a signal to the brain and activates areas of the brain including emotion, recall (memory) and action planning.

Typical bladder frequency occurs 4- 6 times per day

The need to wee

Large bladder stretch → strong signal to brain

Strong signal → Increased awareness of bladder/discomfort

Increased discomfort = brain makes decision→ Empty bladder and get on with your day

A nervous body or mind can increase bladder awareness

Anxious mind, nervous body = increased need to wee. 

Especially around stressful events (exams, race starts, presentations)

Override or wee?

If the nervous wee bothers you think of the EVIDENCE that you have that tells you the bladder is NOT as full as it seems

Evidence → have you drunk much in the last hour? Have you wee'd in the last hour? Did you empty your bladder fully?

Decide the signal is incorrect → Override wee, urge reduces

Too nervous? → Go wee, try again next time!

To learn more, book an appointment with a pelvic floor physio now

Follow us here @the_pelvichealthhub

Mehr, AA, Daily symptom associations for urinary urgency and anxiety, depression and stress in women with overactive bladder. Int Urogynecol J. 2022