Frequent urination/OCD

[RedRose75]

I have OCD which causes me to think I need the toilet all the time. Tests found no physical cause. I feel like I need to go even if I've only just been, and it's ruining my life because I either feel uncomfortable all the time or am running to the toilet all the time. The psychiatrist has suggested more tablets, but I'm already on two different anti-depressants. Has anyone else experienced this and, if so, what helped you? Thanks.

[rsme]

My 9yo son has the same issue. I think there are two different problems combined - either bladder indeed gets filled fast (can happen during night and not related to psychiatric symptoms) or the signal "I finished urinating" doesn't make it to conclude the process - my kid has both problems.

Fast filling of the bladder is related to acute reduction of oxidative stress during which the body has accumulated water to prevent oxidative damage. When metabolic state improves (redox state), the cells push extra water out, hence bladder fills up fast.

Second problem is [the signal "I finished" not registering] is a challenging one and directly related to OCD. In our experience it is related to reduced energy in the brain and again to high oxidative stress, which lowers energy production in the cells by design to prevent apoptosis.

[RedRose75 in reply to rsme]

Thank you so much for answering. Has anything been able to help your son?

[rsme in reply to RedRose75]

Yes. Basically anything that supports increase in production of glutathione is helping (NAC, glycine, methionine; Nrf2 activators; vitamin D3) and also reduction of stuff that depletes glutathione or cysteine - e.g. fatty foods (but only certain types of fat).

Also tiny amounts of selenium in the form of sodium selenite is helpful.

Small amounts of B vitamins, but really small to avoid major energy increase which will make oxidative stress worse.

[PinkSpear4]

Is that To Wash Your Hands All The Time As OCD Can Start With Fear of Human Waste i Developed OCD At 19/20 Starts of With Compulsive Washing then it Effrcts the Thinking /Thought Process. Not a Nice Place Visit Toilets! Thats what my Dad Told Me! One way to avoid Going Back To the Toilet is to Write Things Down that are infringe of you and says it’s Gonna Cost you each Time You go to the Toilet! Or Distract YourSelf or Write it’s s bit like People who Go to Bed after Sleeping 8 Hours etc unless they are in pain or Suffering or Recovering

[PinkSpear4]

Do You Have Nightmare s about Toilets and Facaes etc Cos sometimes I do the way I counter act is by eating Cheese Before Bedtime We Repeat Things Cos Of Fear and Anxiety!

[Eli_E]

Hi! I've experienced this. I used to go to the bathroom sooo many times before going. I wasn't aware this was a symptom of my ocd until I read it somewhere. I am doing much better with this. For me I just started working my way down to how many times I would let myself go. I didn't suddenly just try to stop. I would give myself a number before bed and that was the amount of times I was able to get up if I felt like I needed to go. Then I started shrinking the number. Now I only go once, maybe twice before bed. So for me, starting with small goals and working my way up worked well.

[RedRose75 in reply to Eli_E]

Thank you.

[aparente001]

There might be a physical component to this. You could ask the gynecologist for the name of a physical therapist who does "bladder retraining." It's a combination of several things: understanding some aspects of the process; learning to gradually extend the amount of time between bathroom visits; and Kegel exercises. First, though, it might be a good idea to check for a UTI. Perhaps you can learn to check how full your bladder is. Here's one way: lie down, take a relaxing breath, and then push a little bit on your bladder. With practice you'll be able to distinguish between full, empty, and somewhere in between. Note, some physical therapists are better than others.

[RedRose75 in reply to aparente001]

No UTI - that's been checked already. Thanks for the suggestions.