Dream-Induced Bed Wetting in Adults: Shocking Reasons Behind the Secret No One Talks About!
You're Not Alone
Many people have experienced waking up from a dream of going to the bathroom to find that they've either gone, are going, or really have to go. For most, this is a one-time occurrence and it's nothing to worry about. If this is a repeated problem, however, you should seek help. It's not the dream that's causing the accident, it's the fact your body isn't waking up to its need to urinate.
My Experience With Bedwetting Dreams
I was walking upstairs and felt my nightgown against my body. I was warm, surprisingly so for winter time. My bare feet were not even cold, and, usually, it's freezing in the house. I made my way to the bathroom, where I proceeded to do what all humans do. I peed.
Ahhh, sweet relief...
ahhh.
MY.
GOD...
What the hell have I just done? I'm peeing! I'm peeing in my bed, and I can't stop! Holy crap, this is crazy!
I Peed in My Dream and in Real Life
Apparently, this scenario was just a really vivid dream. So much so that I actually let loose in real life. So now here I am, jumping up out of bed, feeling the warm urine turning ice cold on my pajamas and a big ole steamy stain right on my brand-new mattress.
I know, I'm disgusting, I'm vile. Some would even say a sinner. I pissed the bed.
I have never been a bedwetter. Who the hell wets the bed at 26 years old? I had never in my life woken from my sleep to find myself pissing all over the place. There had to be an reason for why this had happened.
I took my problem to dream books. I wanted to find out what dreaming about peeing meant. Answers were provided (it would seem that dreaming that you are peeing is a sign that relief from a difficult situation may happen soon); although the book had the answer to why I dream was me peeing and then actually wetting the bed, all dream induced.
When I looked closer within the book, I wanted to find out what dreaming about peeing could conclude. Some answers had been provided (it turns out that dreaming that you are peeing is a sign that relief from a difficult situation may happen), yet no book had a definitive answer to why I was dreaming aboutI peeing and then actually doing so.
The only real answer I could come up with is that my body knew I had to go, being the reason for the dream. I did have to go, but ultimately, I didn't wake up soon enough to actually go. The dream of seeing the toilet and letting it all out started the urination proceedings.
Dream Induced Bedwetting in Adults
It turns out this is a pretty common thing, one that happens to alot of people worldwide, old, young, and everything in-between. It's so common that psychologists gave it its own name: a "false awakening."
In a false awakening, you dream of waking up is so believable and real that you completely accept it, and then you act as if you were awake, but you're actually still lying asleep in bed. In a false awakening, dreamers commonly dream they are doing the normal things they need to do as in, getting up, getting dressed, brushing their teethies, and having a meal. Without having to say it, of course, also peeing.
It's almost as if your body has two needs- one is to empty your bladder, and the second is get enough sleep. Instead of giving up one (sleep), you give up the other (pee). It tries to make it an easier decision and just: pee AND sleep. It's just like your brain's lazy way of tricking itself into believing it can do it all.
Though it may seem like your dream induced your pee, it's likely the turnaround is your brain received the go-ahead that you needed to go, and then that feeling provided your dream with adequate reason to do so..
What Should You Do Now
If you experience this, you should know that a lot of people go through this same thing. You are most certainly not alone. People go through this experience without it becoming a recurring problem. You can always check out the Moon Time Store for an alternative to wearing diapers. Pee Panties give you all the protection of one but feel like regular underwear.
If it only happens once and does not occur again, don't even think about it. It was a one-off thing, and there are tons of other people who have had the same experience.
What Happens If It Keeps Happening?
Bedwetting, with the scientific name of nocturnal enuresis, is only an issue if it's a regular occurrence. Many people have never experienced a dry period since they were young. For some, wetting the bed comes back to them after several years of never having one accident. According to the National Association for Continence, 2% of the U.S. experience recurring wetting of the bed and even less than that of it being dream induced.
Causes of Bedwetting in Adults
There are two types of bedwetting:
Persistent primary nocturnal enuresis is a condition that begins in childhood and is when someone hasn't experienced nighttime dryness for longer than six months. There is evidence to show that this kind of bedwetting is hereditary.
Adult-onset secondary enuresis is for people who have experienced dryness but then experience a recurrence later in life.
According to some doctors, if you've just started bedwetting after a long period of being dry, some of the underlying causes could be:
A urinary tract infection, which can make it difficult for the bladder to hold urine
Alcohol, coffee, or diuretic medicines, which all cause the production of more urine and can irritate the bladder
Sleeping tablets - Sometimes, these cause sleep so deep the body doesn't wake up when it recognizes that it needs to go
Diabetes - Lots of urine can be a symptom of diabetes. If your diabetes has been treated, this issue tends to go away
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Stress and anxiety
- Urinary tract stones
- Prostate enlargement
- A neurological disorder
- Some medications
- A spinal cord injury
- An underlying medical condition, like a prostate problem in men or pelvic organ prolapse in women
- An anatomical abnormality
- Prostate cancer
- Bladder cancer
What You Can Do to Diminish or End Adult Bedwetting
For starters, do not blame yourself for bed wetting—it is completely involuntary and out of your hands. No reason you should feel guilty or dirty for having this issue. There are some that may help you solve the problem without seeking medical help:
Try changing your diet. Cut down on things like alcohol and coffee along with acidic foods and some foods seen in this list of common bladder irritants from the National Association for Incontinence.
Don't take many of the diuretic medicines options they have for the night.
Limit most of the fluids you drink in the late afternoon and at night, but take care not to dehydrate yourself. This can really irritate your bladder even more, having the opposite effect.
Try to reduce all your stress levels, and your living or work schedule, take a vacation or try to educate yourself on stress-management techniques.
- You could try sleeping on a different bed or moving your bed. Take a stab at an alarm clock to wake you up a few of hours after you go to bed and a few hours before you wake up. Vary the time every few days, so you don't get into a specific pattern.
- Find a routine that will help build things like muscle, endurance, and flexibility. Some combined efforts like weight training (including training with your body weight), cardiovascular training (like running), and also some kind of stretching regimen might help you improve control.
- Try to strengthen your pelvic floor by doing Kegels, these are exercises that can help you improve bladder and bowel function.
- Someone that's overweight increases their risk of incontinence, especially in women. Using a diet that is low in refined carbohydrates and sugar and eliminates caloric drinks is a fine place to start.
- Go to the bathroom before you go to sleep at night. Wait five minutes and try to do it again. Pee as soon as you wake up.
- Though not clinically proven, it's possible you can teach yourself not to wet the bed dreaming through lucid dreaming techniques.
You Need To Get Help If
Definitely, if this is an ongoing problem. Millions of people suffer from bedwetting, just 1 in 12 look for help for this issue. You don't have to be one of those 11 people suffering. There are techniques that you can manage to stop bedwetting.
Before seeing the doctor, keep a record for 2-3 weeks to keep track of your habits. The National Association for Incontinence has a downloadable template with the kind of information you should be recording. You should also be sure to write down the number of wet vs. dry nights, how your sleep was, your mental state, and any other symptoms you're having, such as night sweats.
When you do see the doctor, make sure you're direct, and concise, and let them know that you have a bedwetting issue. Don't let the embarrassment stop you! Otherwise, you won't be able to get the help needed that might make your situation not be a situation.