Can Stress Cause Incontinence?
When it comes to urinary incontinence and bladder leakage, understanding the cause of your troubles is the first step in finding a solution. If you’ve been crossing your legs when you sneeze or avoiding exercises that put a strain on your core, there is a good chance that you might be experiencing stress incontinence. But can mental stressors also influence your bladder?
A V Lounge, our patients come to us for help with regaining their continence. Often, they want to know, can emotional stress cause incontinence? They worry that emotional stress may be contributing to their bladder leakage concerns, assuming that the issue is not related to their pelvic floor strength. We look at pelvic health from a 360 perspective, the whole picture matters! Exploring the reasoning behind bladder leaks is key to getting the right kind of treatment for your needs. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about stress incontinence and emotional stress.
Want to learn more about how Emsella® can help you say goodbye to bladder leakage? Book a free demo today and let us show you how revagination works.
What Can Cause Stress Incontinence?
Stress is a word we often use to describe mental stressors rather than physical pressure or stress. Though when talking about pelvic floor health “stress” is typically defined as pressure being put on the pelvic floor muscles. Sneezing, jumping, and laughing can all be considered stressors for your pelvic floor. Stressors such as caring for an ill loved one, starting a new job, or even going on a date are not typically the type of stress that would be associated with pelvic floor health though they may have the potential to influence urinary incontinence symptoms.
Can Stress Cause Incontinence?
At V Lounge, some of our patients ask, can mental stress cause incontinence? Though mental stress may not directly cause bladder leakage and urinary incontinence it may increase the chances of developing urinary incontinence. Mental stress may also have the potential to amplify symptoms of bladder leakage. Like any other muscles in your body, your mind and pelvic floor muscles need to work together. When you are stressed, there is potential for a disconnect between these systems which could, in turn, make symptoms worse.
Though stress in itself may not cause urinary incontinence it could play a role in the severity of your symptoms. Try to be mindful of your body and notice how your muscles feel when you are feeling stressed. For some patients, working with a psychotherapist may be beneficial as they holistically work to improve their pelvic floor health. See our favourite tips on how to promote mindfulness on our Instagram page
Can Anxiety Cause Urinary Incontinence?
Stress and anxiety are often linked together. If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, you may notice that you experience worsened bladder leakage symptoms when you are feeling stressed. Just like mental stress, anxiety is linked to urinary incontinence though it is not necessarily the cause. If you are already prone to bladder leakage, anxiety has the potential to make these symptoms worse.
How Can I Know What Is Causing My Urinary Incontinence?
Physical and emotional stress can both be contributing factors when it comes to urinary incontinence. At V Lounge, we offer a urinary incontinence treatment that can help you say goodbye to bladder leaks, but it isn’t necessarily right for every person. We always suggest our patients seek a diagnosis from a pelvic floor physiotherapist to ensure they are a good candidate for Emsella® before starting treatments. A pelvic floor physiotherapist can assist you in understanding the cause of your urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor health concerns.
