Why do we feel like peeing when we get nervous?

Who has never experienced the situation of, at a time of great nervousness, such as before speaking in public or attending an important meeting, feeling that sudden urge to pee? For if you thought this was something that just happened to you, know that this unwelcome squeeze is much more common than it seems! But why do we feel this urge to go to the bathroom when we get nervous?

Squeeze

According to Laura Geggel of the Live Science website, experts do not know exactly why we have this answer in anxiety situations, but there are theories. Well, according to Laura, it is normal that when we are calm and warm, our bladder is relaxed - as it fills with urine from the kidneys. Meanwhile, the sphincter that holds the pee "trapped" inside it remains closed to prevent "leaks."

In general, a healthy bladder can hold about 450 milliliters of urine, and once it becomes full, signals are sent to the brain, which in turn transmits information that it is time to empty the organ. So when we are ready — preferably in a clean, comfortable bathroom — the bladder contracts, the sphincter relaxes, and the fluid is expelled, bringing that relief.

According to Laura, the mechanism that triggers the urge to pee is controlled by a number of factors, including the nerves that lie along the spine and the functioning of the brain. With regard to the sudden urge to empty the bladder in times of nervousness, one of the suspicions is that this response is associated with the escape and fight reaction - also known as the acute stress reaction.

Scientists who support this theory believe that the urge to pee is stimulated by the tension and adrenaline rush that our bodies experience when we get nervous. More specifically, they argue that because the central nervous system is activated to react at a higher level of sensitivity in stressful situations, less stimulation may be needed to activate the bladder emptying reflex.

Another theory would be that the escape and fight reaction causes our kidneys to increase urine output and thus the bladder to fill faster and such. And some believe that, as when we get nervous, our muscles get tighter, the bladder, which has a layer of muscle tissue, contracts too, triggering the sudden urge to pee.