Incontinence and Psychiatric Issues

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Does anyone here struggle either incontinence tied to psychiatric and mental health issues? I have ptsd, a form of schizophrenia and dissociation (like an emotional blackout due to trauma). So while I have an occasional accident just from not making it to the bathroom in time mostly it’s daytime accidents and bed wetting due to nightmares, losing time and having flashbacks or psychological symptoms that cause so much fear that fight or flight kick in and/or my body isn’t on the same page as my brain and I have accidents, sometimes fear induced or because my meds knock me out. Am I alone? Feels like it sometimes. Let me know. Take care and thanks for the support.

 

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I do not have the same issues you do. In the short time I have been on this site I don't think any of us here are alone no mater what are struggles are or even if no one else has the same. I have read some of your other posts and it seems like you are a part of this group and not alone at all. Wish I had more to offer but as I am new to all this I am still just mostly reading and learning. Take care.

 

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@Giantsrule8719 I think @Honeeecombs may be a good friend for you. My incontinence stems from Neurogenic Bladder, but it does worsen when I feel anxious. I can relate to the feeling of “losing time” because I have ADHD and am so easily distracted. If I’m dedicated to working on one task, I can get distracted by another task, and literally the entire day can go by before I notice that I’ve been distracted. I hate it! Many folks here on the forum have psychiatric struggles in addition to incontinence. We are here for you any time. I also have OCD, depression, and anxiety. I used to say I wish I could find a pill called, “The Normal Housewife Pill.” I understand what it feels like when your own mind betrays you, no matter how hard you try to keep it healthy.

 

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I have been diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety and Complex PTSD (Childhood abuse). To confuse matters I also have had Severe Spinal Stenosis (for which I have had surgery, which significantly relieved many of the associated symptoms, but some of the damage is permanent), and later in life developed Severe Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes. In later life I have also been diagnosed with ADHD, and although I have no diagnosis, I suspect I am on the Autism Spectrum.

Throughout my life time I have wet the bed, as a child frequently, then during my adolescence very occasionally but was mainly dry. In young adulthood, I discovered alcohol and during this period, particularly when very drunk, I started having nightmares and flashbacks in my sleep, and often the combination would lead to a wet bed. As I matured, and I drank less, the nightmares became less frequent and I became mainly dry again. But I also found very occasionally I’d have a nightmare and wet bed even without alcohol.

Then I turned 50, and everything went haywire, personal and family problems escalated, my mental and physical health deteriorated and I started drinking and gambling regularly. It was a vicious cycle. And my incontinence became problematic, and I started bedwetting on a regular basis. It was my incontinence that led to me first seeking medical help. My GP sent me to a urologist had lots of testing and was diagnosed with enlargement of the prostate and overactive bladder. My mental health deteriorated and I was ultimately hospitalised. During this period I was dealing with urologists, orthopaedic surgeons, ear,nose and throat specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists and physiotherapists.

Like you, my body doesn’t seem to be on the same stage as my brain. Sometimes my subconscious seems to takeover and I don’t feel like I am in control of my own body.

Even though my various medical specialists are aware of multiple issues, they don’t communicate with each other and don’t seem to have sufficient knowledge of other issues to properly address the interconnection between them.

There is no doubt in my mind that the physical and mental issues are interrelated, but the problem is working out how they interact.

You’re not alone, I’m having similar experiences, and I’ll bet there are others like us in the same boat.

 

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Yes; i suffer from Schitzoaffective Disoder and Autism Spectrum Disoder; but am very high functioning. I live on my own - and been living in an indepedent apartment program since December of last year. I lived on my own for years prior to my schitzoaffective diagnosis.

My Bladder problems started when i started experiencing pyschosis symptoms - but my bladder issues have remain unchanged even though i'm doing alot better.

If you need to talk i am here.

Sincerely,
Honeeecombs

 

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G......,
As an experienced leaker, I encourage you to separate the leakage issue from the other psychological issues that you and many must deal with. Regardless of cause, i suggest you address the incontinence as we all must. It might be psychological or physiological, but who cares when the pants get wet. If you can deal with the various issues separately, I would hope your stress level will go down a notch or two. There are several means by

 

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Sorry, typing skills are challenging.
G......,
As an experienced leaker, I encourage you to separate the leakage issue from the other psychological issues that you and many must deal with. Regardless of cause, i suggest you address the incontinence as we all must. It might be psychological or physiological, but who cares when the pants get wet. If you can deal with the various issues separately, I would hope your stress level will go down a notch or two. There are several means by which you can manage leakage, so pls have at it. For one suggestion, pls see some of my previous posts regarding that issue. Best wishes to you.

 

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Hi Giantsrule8719

I have been diagnosed with relapse remitting multiple sclerosis; then Major Depression Disorder (MDD) from the MS diagnosis; followed by a ptsd diagnosis for my mental issues from dealing with issues related to my business snow clearing activities if you can believe ur . And then anxiety, ray-nodes disease where one has bad circulation to their extremities (hands and feet).

Thankfully medications worked wonders for me and my illnesses as even recently started taking Quetiapine (as it was proven in rats to help remyleination)for the possible re-myelination and sedating affects. The only other thing is Quetiapine is known as an atypical antipsychotic med with may throw some people off but whatever lol.

Cheers Jason

 

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@Jwh51 Best wishes that your new medication helps. I, too, have Raybaud’s - probably spent too much time and too many nights out playing in the deep snow growing up.