Diapers Vs the Psychological Burden of Urine Leakage

There’s much more to certain health issues than what appears to be on the surface, even if they are not life threatening. Urinary incontinence, one of such conditions, is basically the inability to control one’s bladder, which in turn, leads to the involuntary release of urine from the bladder. Urinary Incontinence treatment depends on the root cause; however, it can definitely be managed with incontinence products like adult diaper pants and tape-style antibacterial adult diapers.

If it is shrugged off as just an ageing problem or temporary health issue that passes with time, then it not only has physical effects like skin infections and rashes but also leads to psychological consequences. A health condition that has an adverse psychological impact can turn into something much more disastrous, than what it actually is.

So, even if the incontinence issue is treatable, managing it with utmost care and patience is essential, irrespective of what type of incontinence one suffers from. The main causes of incontinence include diabetes, obesity, pregnancy, menopause, prostate issues and similar conditions.

Behavioural changes caused by urine leakage

These conditions along with the constant urine trickle urinary incontinence causes can affect the patient mentally in several ways, bringing the following behavioural changes in their daily life:

1. Social isolation:
   If the caretaker or the people around the patient are not understanding or considerate enough, he or she might fall into the trap of the accompanying embarrassment, as there is already a social stigma associated with incontinence. This can make it difficult for them to be openly and unabashedly vocal about the issue, which leads to feelings of abandonment and anxiety, thereby making them susceptible to social situations.
   Some patients experience a sudden shock that results from their inability to accept incontinence as a reality, thereby putting them in a state of constant denial. All of this turmoil going on in one’s head turns the possibility of social isolation into a reality, which can worsen the condition. This condition leads to a psychological need for diapers—which help the patient feel secure.

2. Degradation in the quality of life
   Psychological effects like social withdrawal, isolation, and depression can ruin the patient’s quality of life. It gets degraded further by the impact that incontinence has on their everyday things, like the sleep cycle, inclination towards exercise and sports, and work or social life. At night, it is more difficult to manage incontinence as one cannot immediately react to sudden urges of urination. Moreover, in the case of an overactive bladder, the patient has to wake up several times to visit the toilet, which affects their sleep cycle immensely.
   It also subconsciously, yet slowly, starts affecting their flexibility, because of which it acts as a barrier to sports activities and exercise, thereby leaving them with restricted mobility. These interruptions can be resolved by the use of Overnight diaper pants for adults which can hold up to 16 hours of urine and allow both patients and caregivers peaceful, uninterrupted sleep! At work, it decreases their concentration power and leaves them in a state of constant paranoia related to urgent toilet visits. So, incontinence can lead to an immense degradation in the quality of life.

3. Constant morbidity
   Some people are not good at dealing with things they do not expect to happen. The condition of being diseased and the accompanying psychological effects, like stress and depression, can take a toll on their psyche. This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, frustration, anger, and psychiatric illnesses, turning them into someone who feels constantly diseased and destroys their will to overcome their issues of incontinence.

4. Relationship Issues
   Incontinence can adversely affect one’s relationship with their partner, too. Due to the accompanying embarrassment and the constant fear of smelling bad, there is a significant decline in physical proximity. Often left undiscussed, this can lead to reduced sexual desire, thereby hampering the sexual equation they have with their partner. So, the partner and the patient should be thoughtful enough to support each other in such times, and resolve such issues with open communication.

5. Ruined travel and holiday plans
   For people suffering from urinary incontinence, travelling or going on a holiday with their family or friends can turn into a disastrous experience, especially for women. If the journey enroute to the destination does not have regular and hygienic bathroom facilities, it can get worse. Managing incontinence requires the patient to schedule their toilet visits, so the lack of decent toilets on the way can ruin their trip to a vast extent.
   Moreover, it is also advised that they carry adult diapers with them on the trip, in order to avoid unhygienic toilet situations.

Regardless of whether the incontinence issue is treatable or not, it is essential to manage incontinence in all possible ways, including adult incontinence diapers, bladder training, and avoiding spicy foods. We, at Friends’ Adult Diapers, have highly absorbent adult diapers for men as well as women. Unfortunately, there is still a widely prevalent stigma regarding the use of diapers.

We spoke to one of our users on overcoming this stigma and adopting diapers.

User story: How I began wearing Friends’ Diapers

I am a 54-year-old female suffering from overflow incontinence. About 3 years ago, my bladder problems started when I used to feel the constant urge to void even after just going to the washroom. After visiting my doctor and learning more about the problem, I was told to use diapers that are used by everyone who needs them to manage incontinence, from women who are pregnant to people in their old age.

At first, I was skeptical about wearing diapers but after speaking to my doctor at length, I understood I had to give it a try and that all along there was a psychological need for diapers. Today, I have successfully redecorated my entire house and not let incontinence control my life.

Hence, losing control over your bladder does not mean you lose control over your life! Make informed decisions and use convenient alternatives to enjoy a free life without any insecurities of embarrassing leaks or stains.

People who are grappling with urine leakage may or may not feel restricted to perform their daily washroom activities. However, opting for adult diaper pants is one of the best ways to manage bladder control loss. It sometimes comes as a rude shock to discover a cramped lifestyle due to the burden of lost bladder control. It is quite a common problem and generally unacknowledged. Life can be resumed with the use of proper adult diapers for people suffering from incontinence such as old age people, pregnant women, women going through menopause, etc.

These adult diaper pants are made in such a way that it maintains the freedom of a person suffering from bladder control loss. Made with skin-friendly material, the adult diapers have adhesive tabs thereby making them very convenient to wear. The problem tends to hamper an individual's life in a big way. It affects their capacity to work or socialize and if left unattended can lead to mental disturbance.

These diapers allow you to live your life freely and without fear.

How do diapers help?

Diapers enhance the quality of life of people in their old age and others suffering from incontinence in the following ways -

• More efficient and effective incontinence protection

• Better monitoring for regular changes

• Convenience/hygiene in managing incontinence

• Odour prevention

• Discreet incontinence protection

What diaper should you use?

Patients find the usage of adult dry pants and diapers as a solution to not only manage their inability to control urine better but also to regain control over their daily life.

Diaper pants for adults are a viable option as they can be worn over regular clothing and help in avoiding discomfort when bladder leaks occur. They provide patients with the aazadi to move about with ease and carry on all their social interactions and work without hindrance. These diapers can be worn throughout the day and are convenient to change. Overnight diaper pants for adults are more absorbent and provide longer hours of protection, helping patients to stay well-rested at night.

A crucial aspect of incontinence care involves keeping the patients clean and comfortable to prevent infections. Here is a checklist to look out for when buying diapers:

1. Purchase high-quality adult dry pants: This will ensure that patients are at ease and they have freedom from skin irritation.

   • Skin inflammations restrain patients from living freely and independently.

   • The trapped heat and moisture in poor quality products give rise to diaper rash. Diaper rash and infections can be caused due to poor genital hygiene or allergic reactions to perfumes, or materials in adult diapers or dry pants. These give rise to bacterial and fungal infections which cause redness, itching, swelling and pain.

   Furthermore, using cheap diapers also starts affecting the mental and emotional well-being of the patient as they start to feel shackled and helpless.

2. Use wet wipes: Sometimes, a person can contract a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) where microbes get in one’s bladder and the rest of the urinary tract through their urine. This amplifies the risk among incontinence patients who have an increased urgency to urinate and experience severe pain and a burning feeling while urinating. To prevent UTI and other infections as well as keep diaper rash and skin inflammation problems at bay, patients or caregivers must wash the skin around their private parts and wipe it thoroughly using disposable sanitary wipes or towels before putting on their diaper pants. This small self-care tip can go a long way to protect the patients from catching infections and allow them to move about without constraints.

3. Use the correct material: While choosing diaper pants for adults, caretakers and patients should note that they are made from anti-allergic anti-bacterial material. Hypoallergenic material in adult dry pants prevents skin infections by absorbing urine and allowing the skin to breathe. Investing in such high absorbency pads can not only relieve from frequently changing the diapers, but also save more money as one would not need to make multiple purchases. This will keep them safe and mitigate any fear of infections or germs from their mind.

4. Stay clean: Patients should remember to bathe twice a day with warm or mild water and avoid using scented soaps or body washes. Before wearing the diaper, they should allow the area to get some air for a few minutes. In case caretakers are using a washable diaper instead of a disposable one, they should clean the product well and make sure it is fully dried and sanitized before the next use.

By using super absorbent antibacterial adult diapers and dry pants, urinary incontinence patients can experience aazadi from the anxiety and apprehension of contracting infections. It can liberate the patients’ mind from the adverse thoughts of being afflicted with pain due to infections, more health complications, increasing medication and visits to the doctor. They are truly aazad or free to live a life without stress. The fear of public shame or infections will no longer inhibit them to enjoy every moment.