Pee while panic?

[Ladygdala]

This has been a super embarrassing symptom in the past, I’ve never really brought it up. Although I do not have panic attacks anymore (due to constant dissociation now) I thought of this the other day, it’s like I had felt a glimpse of what it used to feel like for me in my teens. The discomfort of losing control of my bladder.
Has anyone ever experienced peeing just a little bit while having a panic attack/squirming to try to fight it off? (Note, I have been potty trained super young and have never had any issues with it as a child) I used to get this all the time in school, at parties, any place with people when my panic disorder was in full blown. Even just one or two people. unless I had a few drinks in me, I couldn’t ever calm it down till my dissociation came to “save my life” after a few years of torture. I was able to live a little more when the “blanket of fog” disconnected me from it. It was super embarrassing and I would finally find a bathroom and cry. At that time, mental health wasn’t a very common thing to talk about as it is today. I had no idea what was going on. Since I felt that “glimpse” of that the other day, I’d like to know if that’s ever happened to anyone else before and why exactly it happens? Just in case when my ‘fog’ lifts, I’m a little more prepared for if I need to feel those panic attacks again. I’m not sure if it works like that but I want to be prepared.
Thank you in advance.

 

[flowerapple]

It’s never happened to me but I would guess that it’s like when someone would frighten you and you pee yourself a little. Sorry I’m not helpful enough.

 

[Overcoming]

Panic attacks bring on explosive poops for me. It is the worst! :poop: escalates the panic more

 

[Sideways]

A whole heap of physical changes happen in our bodies when we enter flight/flight panic mode. As well as your heart rate increasing and your breathing getting shallow, blood is being redirected to your arms and legs (so you can fight or run better), and away from organs and systems that aren’t essential for fighting or running.

So, systems that are shutting down include your stomach (hence tummy issues associated with anxiety and panic), your gut and your bladder. So yeah, in extreme states of panic, it’s not uncommon for people to wet themselves or poop themselves.

Making a habit of monitoring yours SUDS (subjective units of distress - ie. how stressed am I right now) can be a helpful way to learn to intervene before you hit panic. And definitely practice your deep breathing regularly when you aren’t stressed, because deep breathing slows the heart rate and forces your body out of fight/flight mode, getting all your systems functioning again.