How to Overcome Your Shy Bladder Syndrome

Shy bladder syndrome, or paruresis, affects some seventeen million American males, or 7% of the entire population, according to a study from the International Paruresis Association. Whether for psychological or physical reasons, many men experience difficulty voiding their bladder in public at some point in their lives. The fact that there is an entire organization devoted to this one cause begs the question, is there a shy bladder cure?

Urologists cite two common reasons explaining the causes of shy bladder syndrome. The first is physical. Under normal circumstances, the bladder contracts after filling up, making urination quite easy. When drinks are consumed, the bladder begins to fill up, stretching the organ. The additional pressure from all this stretching makes it much more difficult to begin urinating. Alcoholic drinks can exacerbate the issue, as they tend to make the prostate gland swell. This can also block the flow of urine from the bladder. Older men are especially prone to this situation, as they may have enlarged prostates to begin with.

The second cause is psychological and has more to do with conventional shyness, as opposed to shy bladder syndrome. In short, many times men are uncomfortable urinating in public in front of other men. This is especially evident at large public gatherings, like concerts or sporting events, where privacy is not exactly guaranteed.

Now that we know what causes it, we can get back to our original question; is there a shy bladder cure? First the bad news: there is no magic pill, injection or surgery that will cure paruresis completely. It has been likened to alcoholism in that regard. The condition can be treated and prevented, but probably not completely cured. But there is also good news. Shy bladder syndrome can be treated, and in many cases controlled, in a variety of manners. As with any medical condition, please consult your own doctor before beginning following any treatment guidelines on your own.

The main issue with paruresis is one of being unable to relax in certain situations. To combat this, you simply need to relax. How you go about relaxing, and which method works best for you, may be an exercise in trial and error.

Some have suggested hypnosis as a form of therapy to assist sufferers with shy bladder syndrome, teaching them how to visualize themselves being successful, even when not in the situation. The IPA website hosts nationwide (and some international) seminars, where attendees are coached on how to urinate in public with ease. Breathing exercises, role playing and even some real life scenarios are played out in order to help me overcome their condition. Some SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or benzodiazepine medications have been noted for their muscle realxing effects, as well as anxiety relief, both of which contribute to overcoming shy bladder syndrome.

As mentioned earlier shy bladder syndrome, or paruresis, has no cure. However, not all hope is lost, as there are several treatment methods that have been shown to help men overcome their physical and psychological reservations.

Get help to overcome your shy bladder syndrome and check out this paruresis hypnosis.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert

View the Original article