Bed Wetting: Myths and Facts
Enuresis, more popularly known as bed wetting, is a common condition among children of school age. A bed wetter urinates during sleep, and this happens without knowledge or control of the child. Because of this, many parents find themselves in a stressful and embarrassing situation. As for the child, such condition causes discomfort, sleep interruption, and embarrassment.
Indeed, enuresis has many unpleasant effects on both the child and the parents. But these effects can be minimized if parents do away with all the misconceptions and learn the truth about their children’s condition.
The following are the myths and facts about enuresis that every parent should know:
Myth #1: Bed wetter are too lazy to control their urination.
This assumption is not only inaccurate, but also destructive because it only makes the child feel bad about himself. The truth is, bed wetter have no control over their condition.
Myth #2: Children who wet their bed have emotional or mental problems.
This misconception may have stemmed from the fact that autistic children usually wet their bed. That is not the case in most bed wetters. Although enuresis results in psychological problems such as low self-esteem, these problems do not cause children to wet their bed. But stress and other emotional issues such as divorce of parents or death of a loved one can trigger enuresis in children who previously have had dry nights.
Myth #3: Wearing diapers at night will slow down the process of getting rid of the habit.
Experts say that using diapers does not prevent a child from outgrowing enuresis on his own. In fact, diapers offer some benefits. For the bed wetters, diapers prevent them from getting wet and cold when they wake up. For parents, diapers spare them the burden of changing the bed covers or washing the mattresses often.
Myth #4: Fluid intake before bedtime causes enuresis.
Yes, restricting the amount of fluid intake before your child goes to sleep can lessen the volume of urine released during nighttime. However, drinking liquids before bedtime does not cause the child to wet his bed.
Fact #1: Enuresis is hereditary.
If there is a history of enuresis in your family, your child is likely to become a bed wetter. Three out of four children who suffer from the condition have a family history of enuresis.
Fact #2: Some bed wetters have a functionally small (not anatomically small) bladder.
This means these children quickly feel a full bladder, so the urge to urinate is frequent.
Fact #3: Bed wetters find it hard to rouse from sleep, which keeps them from responding to their body’s signal to urinate.
Fact #4: Hormonal imbalance causes enuresis.
Some children lack the amount of anti-diuretic hormone that signals the kidneys to produce less urine while they sleep. The result? More urine at nighttime.
Fact #5: Enuresis may be a symptom of underlying medical conditions.
If your child suffers from bed wetting, it is likely that he may have one or two of the following diseases: diabetes, urinary tract infection, sleep apnea, spinal cord problems, and constipation.
It is recommended that you visit a doctor to have your child checked and to get advice on the possible treatment methods to stop enuresis.
Bedtime Stories: Hypnosis for Children
How many times have we herd some rustling coming from the children’s bedroom only to find-out that our kids are having sleeping problems or are wetting the bed. Fortunately for us, these issues can be addressed by using hypnosis for children.
There are more and more children who are feeling the effects of insomnia. In a 1997 survey, it showed results that there are 11 percent of children with ages 5 to 12 who cannot sleep well at night, 7 percent would wake up at the middle of the night, 17 percent would have difficulties waking up the next day and another 17 percent would feel extremely exhausted.
Insomnia among children is attributed mainly to night time fears and anxious dreams. These may be an effect of several factors like environmental aspects, consumption of alcohol or caffeine, or sometimes inadequate parental supervision. Children who sleep late of course tends to wake up late.
Hypnosis for children is used to help children relax or calm down before bedtime. In contrast of what is widely known, you do not have to be asleep to be affected by hypnosis. You should be unconscious but into deep state of relaxation. The subconscious would be more receptive to suggestion during this period. There are programs where the hypnotherapists would give your suggestions which would eliminate stress and other negative energy preventing you to get a restful street.
After entering a deep relaxed state, it is important to address the reason behind restlessness at night. Resolving insomnia with hypnosis also involves you to look into your habits and change your nightly ritual which would help you to quickly fall asleep soundly.
There are also visualization in which the mind can be trained to flush out all thoughts and feeling that brings anxiety and stress preventing you to be at peace and at ease when on your own bed. There are also hypnosis insomnia which encourage patients to listen to CD or watch DVD.
About bedwetting, one out of three children wet the bed at age six. While there are about 2 to 10 percent of teenagers who still wet the bed from time to time. Unresolved, bedwetting can even lead to more severe problems as they grow older.
Hypnosis can also be used to resolve bedwetting problems. There are several CDs where children could listen to stories especially befitting their situations. Some parents discover that aside from removing bed wetting problems, children also started to have:
- Appreciate themselves more
- Discover unique abilities
- Deal with sadness in a healthier manner
- Handle criticisms very well
- Achieve a feeling of well being and in control
Most of the type the hypnosis method for children used is in gentler forms, most of the hypnotherapists use the “blow away technique”. They blow away emotions and fears which prevent them from sleeping or wetting the bed.
Of course there is something much better than hypnosis for children, prevention is still the top action that you can do. Instead to giving them lectures and getting angry because of wetting the bed, focus more on the success they have done previously for staying dry overnight. Remind them to go or relive themselves in the bathroom before going to bed and also limiting the liquid intake two hours before going to bed.
How to Tell Your Children About Divorce
Whether your divorce is amicable or contentious, when and how to tell your children can be a difficult issue. Your children may already know that there are difficulties in your home life and marriage, but you may be surprised at the level of their sophistication and knowledge about divorce. Even if they are relieved to hear that a difficult home life is about to change, do not ever underestimate the degree to which your divorce can impact your children. The adults are not alone in feeling the stress and hurt of a strained family situation. You must take special steps to insulate your children and help them through the divorce process.
There is not one simple outline that provides all the right answers and information on how to guide your children through the divorce process. When and how to tell your children about the divorce will depend upon your person family dynamics, mature your children, the ages of your children, the conflict level in your house, and your own individual preferences. If you are unsure of how to present this issue, it is a good idea to get professional help to do so. Many counselors are well versed in addressing divorce issues with children and they are available to guide you through this process with your children.
The type of divorce situation presenting itself in your family will have some impact on how and when you present this issue to your children. If you and your spouse are amicable, and your divorce is low stress, your children may not even be aware of the possibility of a break up. While that means that the divorce conflict has not affected upon the children as of yet, it does not mean that it will not. Your children might be even more affected by the news that you are divorcing if they were unaware that there were problems in your marriage. If you or your spouse has worked with a counselor, either together or separately, that counselor can lay out some simple strategies on how to tell the children. Basic information that you want to discuss with the counselor is whether you tell the children together or separately and what information you can or should give the children about what their living arrangements will be in the future.
It is never acceptable to show that you and your spouse are getting a divorce when you are in the middle of a conflict. To place blame on your spouse, or to give information in a way that conveys blame or fault may make you feel better in the short run. In the long run it will hurt your children, and it will impact your long-term relationship with the children's other parent. Also, courts frown on providing children with adult level information and details about your divorce. Do so and you risk hurting your legal case, if your divorce will be presented to a judge.
Most counselors will support a joint parental communication to the children about the pending divorce. However, a joint discussion about divorce with the children does need that you and your spouse be able to keep up a basic level of civility, if for no other reason than to keep up your children's piece of mind. If you and your spouse cannot be civil, do not attempt to discuss this issue together with the children.
If your marriage has been rife with conflict, your children may be aware of or even welcoming the relief of a parental separation and/or divorce. Do not be surprised if you find out that your children know more than you thought, even if you have attempted to hide the conflict from them.
The issues that your children want to be reassured about involve where they will live, where they will go to school, whether their activities and daily lives will be disrupted, and the degree to which they will be able to maintain their relationship with each parent. Teenagers can be particularly vulnerable and sensitive to disruption in their lives and schedules. If you can work out a parenting schedule with your spouse, it is acceptable to share that with the children to reassure them. It also can be acceptable to involve the children in the process of setting a schedule. However, that issue can be very delicate. You do not want children dictating to the adults and you do not want the children to have limited contact with either parent.
Above all else, do not discuss marital fault issues or the reason for the divorce with your children. Even if you think that your spouse is the worse miscreant on the planet, that spouse is your children's parent. Your children want to and are entitled to love both parents. That a spouse cannot make a marriage work does not dispossess them of the right to be a parent. More important, it does not dispossess the children of the right to love that parent and have a relationship with the parent.
Consider that you may have a range of reactions from your children about the pending divorce. They may not be surprised. Or, they could be upset and shocked. In many cases, even when they are not surprised, the children might be angry or blame themselves. Work with a professional to discuss these emotional reactions. Your children will adjust to your divorce, if you give the proper guidance and help during that process.
Divorce – How to rebuild your life – your children
One of the most important things to think about when you are getting divorced is the child that is involved. You want to make sure that you are able to keep them out of the conflict if any between you and your ex. You want to make sure that they are getting the most attention from both of you that is possible. This will make them feel loved and wanted so that they do not feel as if this is their fault.
You will want to make sure that you are taking the appropriate steps to keep your children out of the line of fire. You want to keep them safe from all of the problems that can occur during a divorce. You have to make sure that you are helping them through this difficult time and getting them any help that they may need to deal with these pressures.
You will want to keep the lines of communication open with your children during a divorce. You want to make them aware that you are there for them at all times and you are going to make everything all right. You have to keep a strict eye on the children that are in the middle of a divorce and make sure that they are not having any bad feelings about this situation. You need to do a lot of reassuring so that they are not negatively affected by the divorce.
If necessary you may have to seek counseling for your children. You may want to take them to talk to a professional and let them sort through any problems that they may be having because of the divorce that you are going through. They may feel rejected, at fault, sad, depressed, or guilty. No matter what type of feelings they are going through, they may need to talk to someone so that they are able to get help and feel better about what is going on around them.
You are going to want to find out if they have any questions about what is happening to them. They may want to get some things out in the open and are just too afraid to ask them. This is the time to make it clear that they are allowed to feel how they want and to and that everything will be all right. This is going to comfort them and help them to get their fears out in the open.
You may want to set the children down with you and your ex so that the children are going to be able to talk to both of you about what is going on. This is a good way to make sure that everyone is being honest and that the other parent is not telling the child anything that may be untrue or hurtful towards him or her. It is important to keep any negative remarks banned from the children ears during divorce. You do not want to be saying anything bad about the other parent to the child. This will only make the child more confused and may even scare them.
Make sure that the children are keeping a close relationship with both sides of the family as long as it is a healthy relationship. You want to make sure that anything that can stay the same does stay the same. You do not want to be making too many changes in the child's life. If you can, try and keep them in the same school or as close to their original surroundings as possible. You do not want to take everything away from them because this may be the only feeling of security that they have.
You may want to try and share custody of the child so that the child is able to have both of their parents any time they need them. You do not want to make any divorce or custody battle ugly. This will only complicate things and make them harder. It is necessary to keep things simple for the children. You will not want to make any child feel uncomfortable in the situation of divorce.
What Is Child Custody?
If you are one of those who are in the process of appealing for child custody, then now is the time to know more about the term and the situation. Being aware what does “child custody” mean would somehow give you an idea the responsibilities that come with it.
This term is applicable when dealing with matters such as exercising the right of the parents when making decision for their kids and of course, when one pertains to the duty of the parents to care their kids.
Since the term “child custody” is a complicated legal term it would be best to ask a lawyer him or herself to explain everything to you in layman’s term. This means that he or she will relate to you everything about child custody in the simplest possible way so you would understand it very well.
If you don’t have any access to any lawyer, you can gain more knowledge on child custody through research. This can be done by visiting websites on the internet that could give you almost all pieces of information that you need to learn about child custody. Here, you can get as much information that you need to help you gain better understanding on matters that will make or break a child’s life.
Aside from the Internet, you can also read a lot of parenting magazines where there are feature stories on legal issues that concerns any family such as child custody. Here, you can read first hand information from people who have done it themselves so you will learn how will you get started on your own child custody battle.
Making the child understand child custody
For some, there is no more heart breaking than to see a child suffer from the decisions that adults do. However, since separation is a fact of life and usually happens in couples that could no longer fix their relationships, there is nothing more to be done but to make the child understand the situation. Here are some ways that you can make the child understand the situation:
1. Ask your child if you can have a serious conversation with him or her. The major reason why kids don’t understand child custody is because adults underestimate their skills to comprehend complex family issues. If you are on an on going process of child custody or are planning to get started on it, ask your child to a serious conversation. Once a child feels that what you are about to discuss is no laughing matter, then he or she would lend a listening ear and an open heart.
2. Never lie to your child. Kids hate being lied to. They would rather be hurt in knowing the truth that by being told with lies. When you are about to go on a child custody case, make sure that you explain thoroughly to your child what is happening and why are all these taking place. Since it’s something that kids don’t understand fully well, make sure that you will be ready to answer all questions coming from your child.
Teaching about the Internet
Kids today have a different perception of the computer and the internet. Children in elementary school are being taught how to use a computer. Some school reports require internet sources. Teaching your children about the internet and setting some rules will help keep them safer.
First, help your children understand that seeing something on the internet doesn’t make it real. Friends that they meet might not really be children. Help them to understand how the internet makes everyone anonymous. Anyone can create a web site and make their information appear as fact.
Help them set up an email account that you can control. Limit the emails they send out, make sure they are to friends that they know. Set up an email filter so that unwanted email isn’t viewable to them. Decide on rules regarding registering for things on web sites, you may not want them doing this.
Set a limit on computer time. Experts advise that children have no more than two hours of television, electronic games, or computer use in a day. Monitor their time on the computer to try to keep within these guidelines.
Show them how to search for things they are looking for. There are several great search engines for kids. Some popular search engines that cater to children include www.yahooligans.com and www.ajkids.com. If you allow them to search for information through a search engine, monitor their web browsing to make sure they don’t end up where you don’t want them.
The internet can be a great tool for children, and provided a wealth of information, games, and other fun activities. Monitor their computer time, and watch where they are surfing. Always make sure that your kids are following safety rules when on the internet.
Bed Wetting is for Adults Also
Yes, you read it right. You may never know it, but adults are prone to wet nights—not those associated with male discharges. What is being referred here is the type of condition that is more common to children, which is bed wetting or enuresis. This condition occurs when a person, young or adult, urinates during sleep. Studies have shown that roughly 2 percent of adults within the age range of 16 and 60 wet the bed a couple of night every week.
Of course, adult enuresis is very embarrassing.
It is enough reason to get teased by friends and colleagues and to shun friendships, relationships, and enjoyable activities in life. However, adult bed wetter must recognize the fact that they have the condition and need to seek medical help.
The first step in properly dealing with adult enuresis is determining its possible causes.
* Stress. Stressful situations and emotional struggles may cause a person to pee during his sleep. There are ways to manage stress and control enuresis. These include listening to music, performing relaxation and breathing techniques, or engaging in sports and physically challenging activities.
* Natural aging process. As people age, their body deteriorates. This leads to slower movements and reflexes. Thus, the older an adult gets, his urinary control decreases.
* Fluid intake. Drinking excessive amounts of liquid just before hitting the sack may cause a person to wet his bed.
* Coffee, tea, and alcohol. Coffee, tea, soda, and other beverages with caffeine content trigger production of more urine in the body. Alcohol, for its part, makes the control in the bladder muscle weaker. Avoid these drinks especially at night to keep yourself from wetting the bed.
* Diuretic medications. There are drugs that can trigger enuresis. For example diuretics are taken to prevent heart failure caused by kidney problems. However, taking the drug can take its toll on your urination control at night.
* Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) imbalance. ADH controls the release of urine by the urinary system. If the body lacks this hormone, chances are the person will experience wet nights.
* Urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI can cause problems in releasing urine from the body especially during sleep. A tumor or swelling in the lower urinary tract can also cause involuntary wetting at night.
So what’s the best thing to do if you are prone to wetting the bed? First, you can train your bladder to empty urine at particular time intervals.
Pelvic muscle exercises are a good way to be able to control urination at nighttime. This workout, which makes the bladder muscles stronger, must be done two to three times every day for at least four weeks.
If you are taking diuretic drugs, take them during the day or at least eight hours before bedtime. Visit your doctor to find out the medication options you have to be able to cure enuresis.
Controlling adult bed wetting is no different from that of children. The only difference is that you are in charge of your own body (not your parent), so be careful when considering the different treatment options available for your condition.



