www.incontinentsupport.org

I've noticed that even though I always try to make it to a toilet whether I am wearing protection or not. I tend to be much more prone to having accidents when I am protected than when I am not. I don't know if it is subconscious that I don't try as hard to hold it, or that I tend to not rush to a toilet as much as if I'm not wearing protection or what. Has anyone else noticed this?

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-full time graduate student with urge urinary incontinence due to an overactive bladder

It is a normal psychological and physical response. After wearing diapers for a while we often become more accustomed to just using them. Also, we usually become accustomed to voiding at a smaller bladder capacity. Don't worry about it. Keep on using the toilet when you can and you will not become "diaper dependent."

--John

When I’m not wearing a diaper, I have to be hyper aware of the location of the nearest bathroom and of the moment-to-moment feelings associated with the condition of my bladder; and this need for hyper awareness creates a lot of anxiety because I know that failing to get to a bathroom very quickly when an “urge” strikes can lead to visibly wet pants, puddles on the floor and damage to upholstered furniture. When I am wearing a diaper, that anxiety is relieved; and I can concentrate on doing whatever I need or want to do. I still urinate in the toilet when it is reasonably convenient to do so, but I generally end up with two or three wet diapers during the day.

Yes, this is a very common issue, that not only I have noticed but some of my friends as well. This is how it works: once you wear protection, your brain subconsciously stops being afraid of having an accident, what makes your bladder control much worse. You just have to decide for yourself, whether you want to have those accidents, but still fight for a better bladder control with the hope, that you can improve your quality of life or you can give up and focus on wearing pads/diapers. It's entirely up to you, but you will not improve your situation if you gonna stick to protection more than you need it.

I don't think it is sticking to protection more than I need when my control can vary from having no trouble making to the toilet to only getting a minute or so warning before an accident so if it turns out to be one of those days where I have very little control I need to be wearing heavy protection when I'm out and about because I might not be able to make it to a toilet. Even when I am wearing protection I still make efforts to make it to a toilet although I don't worry as much about the consequences of not making it in time

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-full time graduate student with urge urinary incontinence due to an overactive bladder

This sounds exactly like my situation. For me, diapers provide security and confidence. I still use the toilet when I can make it, but the diaper protects me when my urge incontinence doesn't give me time to get to a restroom.

No more "Diaper Roulette" for me. On a recent two week trip I tried to go very light on my protection (pull-up+pad) and use the bathroom whenever possible. However I was constantly concerned if I would have enough capacity if I couldn't always find a toilet. As it turned out I never did have a leak but I know I was close a few times and it just wasn't worth the anxiety. Once I got back home and into my regular diapers all of that worry just went away. Bottom line for me is that diapers are just plane convenient sometimes so even though I will use a toilet when I can I won't go out of my way to use one.

This is an interesting situation that I believe many find themselves in. I call this being "Diaper Trained". This is not a lack of potty training, but we know mentally that we are protected, and I at least, end up not wanting to hurt as much as I hurt to try and stop the inevitable. I have even found myself going without even thinking about it at times. It happens.