Psychosomatic Incontinence

[gee]

I have wondered if my incontinence is at least in part, psychosomatic. I've tried to test to figure that out, but then I don't really know how without very unpleasant results so i live in fear and often wearing protection and continue to live with the problems. Does anyone here know about the condition being psychosomatic? In searches, All I've been able to locate is "psyc incontinence in women" usually found with articles about OAB. That does not tell me much. It does not address my issues. I would like to know if anyone here could lead me to information about research dealing with urinary and fecal incontinence being psychosomatic.

[Patrick]

I have a benign brain tumor, a brain injury, and a genetic disease which also affects my nervous system. Several doctors have told me that this combination makes double incontinence inevitable. As you might expect, this also affects my psyche. So, for me, there is definitely a connection, even if your search of the literature has not yet yielded results. Good luck, and report back on what you learn. I'm sure I won't be the only one who benefits.

[gee]

hi Patrick, your answer is something that adds to my belief that my condition is not receiving much interest/study. i'm not really happy about my own situation if it is purely thought (that i'm not aware of) that causes my problems. i don't know what i will find in my investigation, but i'm wishing you the best and i will definitely report back (if and) what i find.

[MSUSpartan]

Psychosomatic is an outmoded term, try searching with psychogenic instead. Alternatively, go the other way, to find older literature, and search hysterical incontinence.

[MSUSpartan]

Here is a hit.

Psychogenic aspects of urinary incontinence in women.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/699414

[B Brian]

Well, stress absolutely is linked to incontinence problems, and other psychosis issues can lad to overeating and weight gain which in turn is also linked to incontinence problems. So it certainly it can be in part. Whether or not it is for you would require seeing a few doctors and psychiatrists to get a actual diagnosis though.

[MikeJames]

I know stress/anxiety or trauma from abuse is considered in bedwetting. The doctor at my first urology appointment asked me a bunch of questions about stress and I honestly have had one of the most stressful years of my life (birth of son, death of beloved father), but I am 100% certain my bedwetting is not related to that. It started months after the stressful events and I feel that I went through a really healthy grieving process over my dad. While I miss him like crazy every day, I'm in a good place with it. The baby's been pretty much nothing but joy, "stressful" I suppose in the "it's a major life event" kind of way, but not problematic in any way. I'm absolutely certain my issue is physical and something is crappy with my bladder or nerves down there. They call it OAB but don't know the cause. Oh well.

Aside from stress or psychological trauma I'm not sure what other legit psychogenic causes are out there. I think for 99% of people who wet themselves or have fecal incon are dealing with a legitimate, if not unidentifiable, physical cause. There may be a very small number of people who make up their condition for attention or are malingering but I think that's probably such and incredibly small number to not warrant a lot of consideration.

Even things like brain tumors would be physical, not psychogenic causes in my opinion.

It's a very interesting topic though.