Posted by Simon on 28/5/2010, 9:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Relax"
The problem with the bladder is that it is not like tensing / relaxing the muscles in your arm. Your arm muscles can be consciously flexed using direct nerves from the brain via the spinal cord. The bladder is under the control of something called the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Basically, we don't have as much conscious control over this system (which also controls things like heart rate etc). It also responds to hormones like adrenaline.
Here comes the relaxation bit - as we reach the toilet those nasty thoughts start triggering and the adrenaline gets released (heart beating slightly faster; sweaty palms etc.) And what else does adrenaline do - inhibits bladder emptying.
So, relax, stop those thoughts, no adrenaline, easy peeing..... If only. Like you say Steve, they are so deeply ingrained no amount of relaxing thoughts help me!
Love to hear of any techniques people have found actually work (e.g. has anyone tried something called exposure response therapy?)348
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