This Is Really Powerful: How To Stop Frequent Urination Naturally
In 2017 Steve and I were in Washington state, about to climb a mountain — I had used the bathroom at the apartment right before we left, I went at the coffee shop where we stopped to pick up our lattes — and I wanted to use the port-a-potty before beginning our multi-hour trek. (Of course, I was carrying toilet paper in my pocket in case I couldn't hold it on the trail.)
I was constantly annoyed because I felt like I would go to the bathroom to relieve my bladder, but it never felt truly empty. It felt like urine was still in there, but I couldn't release it all. There were times where I would sit on the toilet for 10-15 minutes, just letting small streams out at a time, until I felt "empty enough." That worked fine enough at home, but what about in public?
Here’s a photo from 2017 in Washington of Steve, Ferne, and I hiking up the mountain that day…toilet paper in pocket…where my bladder was causing me so much stress.
I needed something to help me speed things up and I remember finding this hip rotation move on YouTube. It went something like, stand up (yep, with your pants down around your ankles, a truly vulnerable feeling) and tilt your pelvis forward, then back, side-to-side, in a circle, and then sit back down and let more out.
So here I am — it's a cold, damp 40 degrees, I'm in a freaking port-a-potty at the base of a mountain, Steve is patiently waiting for me while Ferne just wants to sniff every single plant and rock on our hike — standing there doing hip rolls so I feel empty enough and maybe, just maybe, I can comfortably make it through this hike, all the way up and back down, before I have to pee again.
I tentatively step out, already assessing my bladder, and Steve asks, "ready?"
"I...think so?!" I answer in a high-pitched unsure voice.
That was the day that I decided I was done living like this. That was the day that the pain of staying the same became too much to bear and I was ready to take a risk and change. It motivated me into action. I was ready to spend the money and get help because I was not about to live the rest of my adult life doing some kind of hip-dance by the toilet every time I went.
I knew I wanted to treat my overactive bladder naturally. I was already. on a holistic health path, and chose to see an acupuncturist. At the time, my motivation was to fix something I perceived was wrong with me, a weakness. I believed my body had a “problem” and it needed a “to be fixed”. Like taking a car into a repair shop for a leaky AC hose.
I knew that acupuncture was not going to be a one-and-done strategy, and prior to my Seattle trip I had tried to save money by self-diagnosing Chinese herbs from my TCM deep dive for Steve’s swollen lymph nodes. My frequent urination wasn’t showing signs of improvement that I was hoping for – I knew it was time to take more serious action.
When I arrived home in Chicago I immediately started to seek out holistic help. I ended up investing 45 hours traveling to and from my practitioner + 54 hours receiving acupuncture treatments, and spending more than $3,100 out of pocket, since my insurance did not cover alternative treatment options or herbal supplements.
I didn’t spend this money or time – resources I highly value – out of love and respect for myself.
In fact, I resent my body and bladder for “having to” do this. I was a victim of my bladder and I had this motivation to put my body in its place by taking control of the situation. “I’ll show you! I’m not tolerating this any longer. You will perform how I want you to,” was basically my command to my body.
Can you relate to this? I believe if you’re doing the research to find this page you’ve had a version of this play out. And that’s completely normal. It’s the way we’ve been taught to treat our bodies. But I’m here to share a different way.
Before We Dive In Further
Hello! Welcome to this healing space, I'm Anne. "Healing" in this place is done differently. I prioritize nurturing human qualities such as love, compassion, creativity, and authenticity. I encourage you to embrace your humanity and stop treating your body like a machine. I truly believe that finding comfort within your own skin can help you overcome your bladder challenge, just as I did. It all starts with treating yourself better.
How you treat yourself impacts your health and well-being. In fact, it’s the foundation.
Love is the ultimate remedy for your bladder and well-being and it’s time to take its power seriously. Love is about being present and feeling at home within yourself, regardless of the circumstances.
If this resonates with you, welcome! I’m here for you. I assist individuals in establishing healthy relationships with themselves to enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Did Acupuncture Heal My Bladder, You May Wonder?
Full disclosure, it did improve it. I’m still a believer in the power of acupuncture and cherish the kindness and nurturing I received from my acupuncturist.
But all of that still did not provide me with the results that I was seeking.
I was sick of feeling held back by my bladder and I was looking for freedom. Freedom to go where I wanted and not have the single-rain-cloud fear of “what if there isn’t a bathroom” hanging over my head.
I was sick of feeling anxious all the time regarding needing to pee, and I was looking to feel fully relieved after urination.
And most of all I was sick of feeling helpless, and wanted to believe that there was something within my own power that I could do to help myself. There was a real fear that if I stopped seeing my acupuncturist that my bladder would “get bad again.” And this left me feeling like I would constantly need to factor that into my budget, and I would always need to live within access to a great practitioner.
We had our sights on moving away from Chicago and would there be another acupuncturist near my future home? That was a major factor for me, at the time.
I may have felt helpless, anxious, and held back, but underneath it all hope remained and it fueled me.
Instead of giving up I went within.
Since my frequent urination low point in 2017, I have learned a LOT...my beliefs on health and the body have completely changed.
Biggest Aha-Moment: My Bladder Was NOT The Problem.
So what was?
I thought my bladder was weak and treated it like an annoying problem that needed to be fixed so I could eliminate this struggle in my life. Essentially I was treating my body, and myself, like a machine to be fixed rather than like a plant to be nurtured to grow strong and bloom.
I had little love for my body. And that translates to little love for myself. I can remember not feeling at peace with myself. I was not comfortable in my own skin.
I had no idea the ramifications of treating myself like that. Especially relating to my health. But I do remember feeling a tension within, always there under the surface. Like there was an inner battle.
Waking Up To My Inner Battle
This is me and my pup, Ferne, hiking through a blueberry field. I love to go for long walks outside, and I’m now able to enjoy a hot coffee with me, no bathroom in sight, and feel calm and at ease in my system.
Are you saying, “me too!” Maybe even feeling the activation of some deep truth with you? Are you also curious how this connects to bladder function and how it can benefit you?
I hear you. Let me illustrate with a common example to make the connection.
Most likely there has been a time in the past when you were so nervous before an important test that it made you rush to the bathroom. Sometimes, emptying your full bladder feels like a relief. Other times, even when there's barely any urine in there – maybe you just went – the urge to pee and panic are still real.
Needing to urinate frequently is a natural stress reaction, because part of the fight-or-flight response is to eliminate waste as quickly as possible.
The concept makes sense in the test (or similar situation) example. However, I wasn't always in high-pressure situtations like during an important test or what I would call a fight-or-flight scenario. The stress reaction was happening during something as simple as hiking or just regular daily activities.
It made me wonder, why was my bladder performing the stress response?
I believe it was because of that inner battle I mentioned above. My body was in constant stress from how I was treating myself.
Internally tearing myself down.
Being hard on myself
Totally insecure
What I thought about myself and the stories I rehearsed were causing me harm. I didn’t feel safe within my own self.
When we don’t understand this, the need to pee all the time can be a distraction to what is really going on. It can send you on a wild goose chase, loaded with more distractions, disempowering “problems to fix”, and further from the truth.
Here’s some Truth
The truth is your body wants you to love yourself. And I don’t mean saying some hollow mantra trying to convince yourself of something you don’t actually mean or believe to be true.
Loving yourself = feeling comfy in your own skin AND being able to offer your self grace and love when you don’t feel comfy in your own skin.
It’s feeling like you belong, without having to hide, shrink, or morph into someone else. Unconditional love for yourself is not having to hold parts of yourself back so that other people feel more comfortable.
This means that loving yourself is going to fluctuate daily. Some scenarios and people are easier for you to love yourself in. While others are going to take some serious strengthening. Loving yourself is not a one-time goal to hit. It’s a daily practice. And your body is constantly helping you see where you’re tearing yourself down, creating an inner battle, and feeling the tension.
So if that area right now happens to be your bladder, I’m here for you.
Me in 2020 hiking the sand dunes in Michigan, latte in hand, and I don’t have to worry about finding a bathroom! I can successfully hike for hours now and not have to worry about my bladder and it feels so good!
How’s My Bladder These Days?
I am relieved, proud, and over-the-moon excited that I no longer have to do the half-naked hip-dance by the toilet! My bladder no longer limits my lifestyle like it used to.
I also have a completely different relationship with my bladder now. I used to think it was punishing me, saying things like, "why are you doing this to me?" Or..." my bladder hates me." Or..."I knew I shouldn't have drunk that latte before I got in the car."
But now I choose to view my bladder as a helpful friend. It keeps me in check and lets me know when I’m creating an inner battle and encourages me to keep practicing feeling comfortable in my own skin. Thanks, friend!
Remember at the beginning of this when I was trying to hike a mountain and my bladder was ruining my vibe? Well, I'm still hiking all sorts of terrain.
But now I don't have to make sure there is a bathroom at the trailhead or carry toilet paper in my pocket. I go before I leave the house, hike for hours, and make it all the way back home with ease. #freedom!
And that's the kind of freedom-filled life I desire for you too!
When I turned my healing inwards, that’s when I finally felt free from my overactive bladder.
I deeply understand the pain and frustration that bladder challenges face us with. I have been through the endless cycles of trying new methods and products, seeing improvement...and then it stops. The hope that once was...spirals down into discouragement and feeling disheartened.
And I’m here to tell you that there is a different way. One where you no longer have to fight your bladder anymore, and can finally experience relief and freedom.
Interested? I’d love to support you with a first step.
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