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Hi – new to this forum and very grateful. Sorry for long story.
My original trigger was frequent urination when trying to sleep only (urge to pee every 1 minute). Who can sleep like that. Went to regular doctor and then to urology. No problem found. This is an issue I have been having for about 14 years.
Doctor passed the bucket to mental health. They gave me multiple depression medication which didn’t work. Ambien worked but was forgetting people’s names the next day; was working so not a good option.
What worked was benzos (started with Klonopin and moved to Valium). It lessened the pee problem, but problem was still there just not as bad, and I was able to sleep. My problem with benzo is drowsiness the next day. Basically, I have been drowsy for 14 years.
By listening to Martin’s podcasts and videos, I was able to get off of benzo’s (tapered). I have been off benzo’s for about a week now, but my trigger has come back.
I really want to get off these benzos. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I know this is free and definitely planning to contribute to this financially one way or another.
Thanks for this magical work!Hi Johnny
Sorry to hear about your long lasting problems. I suspect that the peeing a lot is related to anxiety, as is insomnia. The benzos helped because they reduced the anxiety. It’s really good news that your sleep has improved and you have been able to get off the meds. I would suggest trying to train your bladder to wait for longer periods during the day. If you make sure you never go unnecessarily eg before going out in case. Try to not answer the urge to go as often as you can and you may find that the urge goes off for a while. You can also do this at night but it’s harder as I’m sure it wakes you up. Eventually you may find that you can go longer in between going and the night time urges improve.
Also worth doing a lot of work on your nervous system to calm your anxiety. Regular meditation and journaling about the things you are worried about. Try to create some mantras in your head like ‘I am safe, I don’t need to pass urine so soon’. The more you go the more you stimulate the bladder to send you messages. You can also try distracting yourself by getting on with life and trying to stifle out the demands from your bladder. If you have been told that there is no structural cause for your symptoms then it is all about your brain over reacting and you need to calm it. Insomnia is much the same.
There are lots of books you can read that help with these symptoms. Happy to recommend some if you are interested. Hope this resonates with you and helps.
Good luck!Hi Bronte,
Thank you so much for responding and your suggestions. Will give them a try.
I do think is anxiety related. I have tools now for insomnia which to my surprise have been close to a miracle. Trying to figure out if similar tools would work for bladder (e.g. acceptance etc.)
As for books, unfortunately I don’t have time to read as I’m currently working but appreciate the offer.
God bless you!Welcome, Johnny — and thank you, @Bronte for your caring and supportive response!
Johnny: You feel this is all anxiety related and you wonder whether similar tools that you are drawing on for insomnia (such as acceptance) might also help with your bladder.
What I will say here is this — many people have found the skills they’ve developed to help deal with insomnia in a workable way are transferrable to many other issues that their experience tells them are beyond their direct control.
Many of our biggest struggles come from trying to (understandably!) control, fight, resist, or avoid what our experience tells us cannot be directly or permanently controlled, fought, resisted, or avoided.
With that being said, you are the expert on you!
—If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.
The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.
my sleep has been so much better for the last month. I had almost forgot about having to pee all the time. I really think it was nerves, anxiety. I was up all night tossing and turning going to the bathroom. I now know I am not alone in this and others have it also. I have been living life and assuring myself I will sleep, if not now, eventually. This has given me so much peace and calmed me down. I sleep 12 until 6 or 7 and might go to the bathroom one time now thank goodness!
Hi- just want to give a little update on my situation.
I probably tapered to fast (on my own guidance). Originally was on two 5mg valium, would start with 5mg and if 5mg didn’t work then I would take another 5mg (total 10mg). About 4 out 7 nights only 5mg worked.
Tapering went to two 2mg. Same principle would start with 2mg and if 2mg didn’t work then I would take another 2mg (total 4mg). Eventually stopped all together for a whole week and that’s went I posted this that my trigger of frequent urination came back.
Now, I’m back, on two 2mg. About 3 out 7 nights only 2mg works. My sleep is much better thanks to Martin’s teachings, and I feel less drowsy next day with this lower dose.
Now, I’m not trying to cut it off. If it happens good, if it doesn’t is ok, it’s just see as delegating some of my sleep to a lower dose.
I’m side note, I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea, and the mask was the only recommendation. I think the mask would bring more anxiety, so I decided not to go with that and instead doing some type of tongue exercises (mainly pressing the tongue tip against the roof of your mouth) and trying to lose wight (mainly via exercise). Let’s see how that goes.You are being flexible and you are being kind to yourself. You are clearly continuing to move closer to where you want to be, @Johnny! 🙌
—If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.
The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.
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