Bedwetting causes: Anxiety and emotional stress

 It is extremely hard to identify how emotions contribute to bedwetting. Anxiety and psychological problems are hard to identify in some children, and whether these cause or contribute to bedwetting will always be hard to determine.

There have been studies that have shown situational issues such as divorce, new siblings, and traumatic childhood events as being more common among children with bedwetting. It has also been shown that children with attention deficit disorders (ADD) and those with hyperactive disorders (ADHD) have increased tendencies to bed wet. About 25% of children with ADHD wet at night, which is slightly higher than the general child population.

Exactly how the variety of psychological stresses and personalities cause a child to wet has also not been determined. Abnormal daytime potty habits, deep sleep patterns, and general defiance are common in children with psychological and emotional problems. These children may be more likely to hold their urine/stool, resist recommendations to perform normal functions, and become deep sleepers because of their daytime stressors.

Bedwetting is probably not caused directly by the child’s emotions or behavior, but rather because of the abnormal potty habits and sleep patterns these children more commonly possess. In other words, emotional and psychological problems probably cause secondary issues that may lead to bedwetting. Addressing emotional and psychological problems may improve some of the daytime potty habits and nighttime sleep patterns that are contributing to the wetting problems.

– Dr. D. Preston Smith

Dr. Smith is board certified and he has authored or co-authored many articles, papers, chapters, and books in Urology and Pediatric Urology. His research has been presented throughout the world. Dr. Smith’s dedication to helping children with urologic problems inspired him to establish PottyMD.