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.
Mental health is essential to living a healthy, balanced life and determines how we handle our lives’ stressors. It also impacts the relationships we form with others and the choices and decisions we make daily. Our thinking, mood, and behaviors can be affected throughout our lives if we experience mental health problems. Being emotionally healthy can help promote productivity and effectiveness in activities like work or caregiving.
Some signs of mental health issues are:
Urinary incontinence products
A caregiver is someone who provides basic care to someone that has a chronic medical condition, an illness that lasts for a long time or doesn’t go away.
When negative feelings start to take over and begin to disrupt your life, your health could suffer. Issues like depression, anxiety, and stress overload can take a toll on one’s health. A caregiver may not realize that their own health and well-being are being compromised because they are so caught up in caring for their loved one.
Practice self-care. Find time for physical activity, eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids, and set goals for a good sleep routine. Many caregivers have issues with sleeping and not getting quality sleep over a long period can lead to health issues.
In addition to caring for the physical needs of a person with incontinence during the pandemic, it’s vital that caregivers pay close attention to the mental health of a vulnerable person. A person who knows they are at a higher risk is more likely to experience anxiety and fear throughout the pandemic. The best thing a person can do is keep the lines of communication open and ensure that the person always has all the incontinence supplies they should need readily available.
Practicing mindfulness is part of having self-compassion. Mindfulness is allowing yourself to be aware of your emotions, thoughts, and feelings and accepting them for what they are in that very present moment. It does not involve dwelling about the past or spending time imagining the future. Make every minute count. If you are spending time with your children, really get engaged and listen. If you are outside taking a walk, really try to enjoy all of the sights and smells in the air. Sometimes it is hard to slow down and take note of all the little things we take for granted each day.
Giving back within your community can also be as simple as practicing random acts of kindness that don’t have to be monetary. Send an email to a family member or friend to just show some appreciation. Leave thoughtful comments on a friend’s social media account. Put a note in your mailbox for your mailman to discover thanking him or her for delivering important mail and being out and about during the Coronavirus. Everyone benefits from acts of kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness.
