Is there a link between certain sensory stimuli and bodily functions? Could a sound or an unrelated action trigger the need to urinate?
Something about the act of unlocking the door to my apartment triggers a strong urge to urinate. No matter how often I’ve gone during the day, or whether I feel any urge prior to arriving at my door, as soon as I turn the keys in the lock I’ve gotta go. If I already sort of have to go, unlocking the door has me praying and dancing to prevent wetting myself. This happens regardless of time of day.
This isn’t a request for medical advice - I’ve seen a doctor and I’m not in need of Depends. I’m asking if maybe the sound or the action of unlocking the door is sending a signal to my bladder that “okay, it’s time now!”
Could be. Certainly the sound of running water is a similar trigger for most of us. As to how you got to make this unique association… maybe you led a previous life as a dog?
I don’t know the exact answer to your question, magdalene, but I can commiserate. It’s like my body says to itself, “Ok, I’m home - time to relax all those muscles I didn’t even know were tensed!” OTOH, if someone is with me the reaction doesn’t happen. I think my body understands that it’s a less convenient time. Makes sense to me.
I remember taking a psychology class in which associative properties like these were researched in greater detail. I only got a “B” in the class (Hey! I don’t like taking notes, okay?), but I do remember that the brain can be ‘conditioned’ to associate two unrelated things no matter how obscure it may seem. That’s why Pavlov made history with that Bell = Hunger/salivate experiment.
That same mental conditioning can go away though if you let yourself be exposed to the same stimuli, but without getting the same response. At least from what I remember.
Pavlov would ring the bell a few times without giving the dog’s their meal afterwards–and measured the ‘decay’ time that it took for them to stop responding to the external stimulus.
It takes a considerably less amount of time to ‘relearn’ conditioned behavior, though.
Dunno if this post was informative or not–but oh well. Stay dry! Or whatever.
