There is a common belief that when one is attempting to relieve themselves but cannot, they should think of running water. The thought is that the sounds of a waterfall or river will help your body begin to urinate. If this is true, should people suffering from urinary incontinence avoid specific thoughts to help prevent unexpected urination?
What is Incontinence?
Incontinence is defined as a loss of bladder control and the inability to control urination. Though this definition is all-encompassing, there are many different types of urinary incontinence.
Different Types of Incontinence
Stress incontinence: A leak in urine due to movement or activity such as laughing, sneezing, running, or lifting.
Urge incontinence: A form of incontinence that happens after a strong, sudden urge to urinate that someone is unable to delay.
Overflow incontinence: Incontinence that occurs when a weak bladder is past full. While the person often feels no need to urinate, they can begin leaking urine.
Functional incontinence: A type of incontinence that is defined by a person aware they need to urinate, but because of a physical or mental disability, they are unable to reach the bathroom.
Mixed incontinence: As the name suggests, mixed incontinence is usually a combination of two other forms of incontinence. Most often, mixed incontinence is a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
Not all these types of incontinence have the same causes or can be treated with the same medications. With that in mind, studies on all forms of incontinence have shown no correlation between incontinence being triggered by specific thoughts. However, one mental effect of urinary incontinence that influences all these groups is its toll on mental health.
Urinary Incontinence and Mental Health
Studies show that those who suffer from urinary incontinence are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Frequently, those dealing with incontinence can also experience shame and a drop in self-confidence due to their condition. Urinary incontinence can make it difficult to go to social outings or stressful to be away from your home for extended periods. People who once held very social lives will often reject attending social gatherings for fear of having an accident at a public event. This behavior can take a toll on mental health, and it is crucial to seek help from a mental health professional counselor.
At Personally Delivered, we know the difficulties those dealing with urinary incontinence face. Not only daily stress but also the feeling that you can’t participate in all of the activities you love. With our array of catheter supplies, protective underwear, liners, and pads, we hope to give you back a sense of normalcy and self-confidence.
