Bladder Leakage is Linked to Depression

Did you know that incontinence (bladder leakage) is correlated with an increased risk of depression?

This was studied in postpartum women and the study found that those who had bladder leakage had higher rates of postpartum depression. (1)

This hasn't been studied in any other population, that I know of, but I'm sure the results would be similar.

This is why I am so passionate about getting this message out and also creating multiple ways for people to get help.

You don't have to live like this! There is help for bladder leakage and bladder problems.

Tips to Help With Bladder Leakage:

First I recommend tracking your habits. How much are you drinking? How often are you going to the bathroom?

This is a starting point I recommend for everyone. Then you can figure out what your baseline is and if there are any things that stick out such as do you drink a lot of water at a certain time of day that is making you go to the bathroom a lot afterward? Do you leak with certain activities such as exercise, sneezing or on the way to the bathroom?

Once you figure out your baseline, then you can figure out next steps. Do you need to get stronger to prevent bladder leakage with sneezing or exercise? Do you need to go to the bathroom sooner after a meal?

Do Kegels Help With Bladder Leakage?

Kegels aren't always the answer. Kegels may help somewhat, but rarely is that the only thing that helps patients with their bladder issues.

Some of my clients actually have tight pelvic floor muscles, so kegels would make their symptoms worse.

Some of my clients need to strengthen the muscles surrounding the pelvis, including the hips, glutes and leg muscles.

Some clients actually have no pelvic floor muscle problems and they need to learn better bladder habits.

How Can You Help Me With My Bladder Symptoms?

You can see me in the clinic and we can assess your pelvic floor muscles for tightness, weakness, strength and endurance. We also will go over your bladder habits and teach you how to change your habits and what exercises to do or not do.

You can schedule a virtual visit. We don't look directly at your pelvis in a video telehealth session, but we will talk about your symptoms in detail and give you exercises and a plan.

I used to be really nervous to do telehealth because I couldn't physically look at or touch you to assess your pelvic floor muscles directly, but I have been having great success with my telehealth clients. Most are better in a few visits.

You can sign up for my online bladder course that will guide you through step by step on how to create better bladder habits along with what to do in different scenarios and it has exercises videos included.

I recommend starting with my free bladder masterclass if you are interested in the online course. It will give you a preview of the information and a discount on the full online course, and you will walk away with strategies you can implement right away.

Resources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5834372/