The Vagus Nerve and Bladder Problems: What to Know
If you have ever wondered why your bladder seems a little more grumpy during stressful seasons, or why you may feel like you have to run to the bathroom immediately as soon as you put your keys in the door on the days you feel stretched thin? You may even feel like you are more prone to leaking during these times, too.
You are not imagining things. And we’ll talk about why inside this blog, but the long and the short is that your vagus nerve may be “to blame”.
The vagus nerve plays a significant role in how your body perceives safety and responds to stress, which in turn influences how your bladder functions.
So let’s talk about what is going on inside your body and why you maybe more prone to leaking during times where you’re stressed and burning the candle at both ends.
Join the FREE breathing series!
Before we jump in, I want to invite you to join my FREE 5-Day Breathing Series.
During this free series you will receive one 5 to 10 minute breathwork practice each day. These sessions are designed to support your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you create a foundation you can return to anytime.
This series is perfect for you if you want to:
feel more regulated day to day
learn practical breathwork tools
start the year with intention
support your vagus nerve naturally
create a calming routine that actually fits your life
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is a nerve that starts at the base of your brain and travels down the sides of your neck. It then extends branches into the jaw, throat, heart, diaphragm, and deep into the abdominal cavity.
Its job is to help the body shift out of fight-or-flight mode and into a more settled state. When your vagus nerve is functioning well, you can move through stress and return to a sense of ease without feeling stuck in overdrive. When it is struggling, your body might have a harder time relaxing, digesting, sleeping, or sensing internal cues clearly.
Because the vagus nerve communicates in both directions, it gathers information from the body and sends messages to the brain while also sending signals from the brain down into the body. That includes the bladder.
How your nervous system influences your bladder
Your nervous system is always scanning your internal world and your environment for cues of safety or danger. It notices muscular tension, breath patterns (remember this! We’ll come back to it!), posture, and even the way you move through your day.
When stress levels rise, your body tenses up. Jaw clenching, breath holding, gripping your belly, or keeping the pelvic floor on high alert are all common. And while you may not be doing these things on purpose, your nervous system reads them as signs that you need to be ready to move, fight, or flee.
That heightened state can influence many systems, including the bladder. Stress can make the bladder more sensitive and can increase urgency, frequency, or the feeling of not fully emptying. If you have ever noticed that your symptoms spike during demanding weeks or after poor sleep, this is why. And ps- the other side is affected too. Learn about breath holding, jaw clenching, your vagus nerve, and constipation here.
How the vagus nerve fits into the picture
Because the vagus nerve helps your body shift into a calmer state, it plays a role in how clearly you feel sensations from your bladder and how well your brain interprets those signals.
When the nervous system is dysregulated, or in the fight-or-flight state, the messages between the bladder and the brain can feel louder, more urgent, or more confusing.
You may feel the urge to go right now, even if your bladder is not full. You might feel pressure or tension that comes and goes. You might feel a sense of urgency that does not match what is happening.
This does not mean your bladder is broken. It means your nervous system is trying to protect you, even if it is overshooting a bit.
Common bladder symptoms linked to nervous system stress
Here are some bladder symptoms that often show up when the vagus nerve is not as “online” as it needs to be or when stress is high:
Urinary urgency
Urinary frequency
Pelvic pressure or discomfort
Difficulty fully relaxing to empty
Symptoms that flare during stressful seasons or after big life changes
How supporting the vagus nerve may help
The goal is not to eliminate stress. The goal is to help your body transition between states more smoothly, so you are not stuck in a state of high alert. This is where the vagus nerve comes in…
Practices that support the vagus nerve can help calm bladder sensations and reduce urgency. A few ideas:
Slow nasal breathing
Softening tension in the belly and ribs
Relaxing the jaw
Grounding your feet on the floor
Practicing small moments of mindful awareness throughout the day
These are simple, accessible, and effective because they send your nervous system the message that you are safe, thereby calming the whole system.
Where to learn specific vagus nerve stimulation techniques to influence your bladder
If you’d like to join my FREE series called “Breathe With Me”.
During this free series, you will receive one 5 to 10-minute breathwork practice each day. These sessions are designed to support your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you create a foundation you can return to anytime.
This is perfect for you if you want to:
Feel more regulated day to day
Learn practical breathwork tools
Start the year with intention
Support your vagus nerve naturally
Create a calming routine that actually fits your life
How to learn more about the vagus nerve and build a resilient nervous system
If this resonates with you and you’d like to learn more about building a resilient nervous system, check out my What Happens in Vagus Doesn’t Have to Stay in Vagus: Nervous System Regulation Course!
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