Think Ive developed SA at the age of 44?

[Slackbabbath]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and just wanted to explain whats happened to me recently.
About 4 months ago I started to notice that while out and about I would randomly, suddenly think i needed to pee. After finding a toilet and hardly being able to go, I'd be ok for a while again. So I thought i had a urine infection, got 2 samples checked out - all clear.
This sensation has subsided and then raised its head again over the past few months. Ive tried rescue remedy every time I have to go out which maybe helps a bit and also started daily cbd oil 3 weeks ago. But still when im out amongst people, usually strangers, it would strike again. So weird as I wouldnt say Im anxious about anything and feel grand??
I work in a bar 2/3 times a week and it can prove really awkward having to excuse myself to the toilet all the time. At home with my wife and kids I am 100% fine. Only flares when i have to goto work or even just goto the shop.
Its really doing my head in, just wondered if anyone else would get this sudden urination syndrome and if they have any advice? Thanks in advance.

 

[janemariesayed]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and just wanted to explain whats happened to me recently.
About 4 months ago I started to notice that while out and about I would randomly, suddenly think i needed to pee. After finding a toilet and hardly being able to go, I'd be ok for a while again. So I thought i had a urine infection, got 2 samples checked out - all clear.
This sensation has subsided and then raised its head again over the past few months. Ive tried rescue remedy every time I have to go out which maybe helps a bit and also started daily cbd oil 3 weeks ago. But still when im out amongst people, usually strangers, it would strike again. So weird as I wouldnt say Im anxious about anything and feel grand??
I work in a bar 2/3 times a week and it can prove really awkward having to excuse myself to the toilet all the time. At home with my wife and kids I am 100% fine. Only flares when i have to goto work or even just goto the shop.
Its really doing my head in, just wondered if anyone else would get this sudden urination syndrome and if they have any advice? Thanks in advance.

It sure sounds like you have social anxiety. You are needing to pee each time because it is your nerves that are doing it. When my brother got married, for example, he was so nervous that he couldn't stop having to run off to the toilet. So it is nerves that makes you want to relieve yourself frequently. Your case, it is going out that is making you nervous.

 

[Slackbabbath]

Hi Jane, yes it def sounds like it. Just cant work out why Ive developed it after working there for over 10 years. Im pretty outgoing etc but this is turning me into a recluse! Was hoping there was some remedy without resorting going to the doctor and being prescribed unnecessary meds...

 

[Peacelily]

Do you like your bartending job or are you kind of sick of doing it? I notice that when I've had part-time jobs that I just dread going to, my anxiety levels skyrocket. Or, if I have to go to a social event I don't want to, I get the urge to go to the bathroom. Although the urge to go can be associated with bladder and kidney infections, it can definitely be tied to social anxiety if you are doing something you don't like doing, or being with people who make you uncomfortable. I also have a cough reflex when I get anxious. I will start coughing a lot if my anxiety level goes up.

 

[Slackbabbath]

Do you like your bartending job or are you kind of sick of doing it? I notice that when I've had part-time jobs that I just dread going to, my anxiety levels skyrocket. Or, if I have to go to a social event I don't want to, I get the urge to go to the bathroom. Although the urge to go can be associated with bladder and kidney infections, it can definitely be tied to social anxiety if you are doing something you don't like doing, or being with people who make you uncomfortable. I also have a cough reflex when I get anxious. I will start coughing a lot if my anxiety level goes up.

Hi, I actually work in the entertainment side of things which I suppose can be stressful at times. I do enjoy my job and feel comfortable there.
Though in saying that these last few months ive had flareups when theres groups of rowdys in, eg stag do's etc.
Then theres been times when ive had to goto a shop just up the road from work and half way there it would just strike and I would either turn back or stand still and try and talk myself out of it. Its soooo random.
Oddly enough Ive noticed if I have a couple of drinks it will subside and I can get through the rest of the night but I know that thats a bad idea to be relying on alcohol!
Would love to find a solution to this without prescribed medication.

 

[Peacelily]

Sounds like anxiety to me. I've had panic attacks while driving sometimes too for no reason at all. Don't rely on alcohol to become a way to relax though. That's how AA got started. You don't need medication to calm down either (fortunately). The non-medication route to calm down from anxiety (social anxiety too) is what I do (it may work for me but not for others, so that is the disclaimer here):

1. Keep a log (either a mental one, or written one) of the date, the situation, and the anxiety symptoms.

2. Then, try to do progressive muscle relaxation (flex and release each muscle group in your body, one at a time) and calm breathing (diaphragm breathing is hard for me to remember a lot of times, so when I forget to breathe in/out from that area and try to breathe in/out from my chest, I will hyperventilate myself by accident).

3. One more trick: Hold ice cubes or crushed ice in your hands. Since you are a bartender you have access to ice for your job. Studies have been done on how holding ice calms a person's nervous system down. I've used it a lot myself and it works every time I'm in the throws of a panic attack. Since the ice is cold, the cold temperature slows down your cortisol release. It distracts your mind and slows down your breathing. https://www.doctoroz.com/slideshow/shortcuts-conquer-your-stress?gallery=true&page=3

4. Take vitamin C. Studies also show that ascorbic acid can reduce feelings of anxiety. Could be due a deficiency in vitamin c in the body (for the cause of some panic attacks, which I believe, b/c I'm anemic so I know my low ferritin and low d levels cause some of my anxiety symptoms too).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26353411

Here is a link to a handout about how to do the progressive muscle relaxation. I can do it while I drive, so it's not dangerous!

https://www.anxietybc.com/sites/default/files/MuscleRelaxation.pdf

Maybe try to do the exercises BEFORE you head to your bartending shift. That will relax you BEFORE you go inside the bar and deal with the chaos from drunk people. That way, you can start your shift from a place of being relaxed versus ramped up, anticipating the worst (not that you do that, just trying to show the disparity between relaxation and 100% state of anxiety).

Don't bother with medication (again, a disclaimer; I'm not a fan of anxiety meds having tried them myself). You can retrain your mind to relax (I'm a work in progress with that, as I still have terrible anxiety) without the help of drugs.