Nocturnal enuresis is the medical term but most people think of it as ‘wetting the bed’! Whatever you call it, it can be a very distressing problem when it continues as a child gets older.
Children, and particularly teenagers, find it embarrassing and go to great lengths to hide it and live in fear that their peers will find out their ‘guilty secret’. They feel ‘babyish’ and ashamed even though it is certainly not their fault. They miss out on sleepovers and school trips and their self-esteem can plummet. Children often feel frustrated and that it is their fault, some go so far as to try and hide the issue from their parents due to the extreme embarrassment.
It is important to rule out anything medical with a visit to the doctor first.
Parents can also help with the way they handle the situation and how they talk to the child affected. Try not to use the word or name “bed-wetter”. Discuss the issue during the day, not at the time it has happened. Reassure them that it is not their fault and they need not be embarrassed. Don’t make a fuss of changing their bedding. It is important to realise that a child might have setbacks after making progress, due to being sick or experiencing stress.
Many are unaware of how common it is for children to wet the bed way after the age of six or seven because it is one of those problems that children swear their parents to secrecy about.
Bed-wetting facts that most parents are unaware of:
- Nearly 10% of children over 9 years and up to 2% of over-16s are still wetting the bed on a semi-regular basis
- The problem is more common with boys than with girls
- There is a hereditary element. If the father had the problem, the child is 44% likely to have it too. If both parents had the problem this increases the risk to 77%
The key thing is not to blame or shame your child. Instead, focus on positive encouragement and practical steps you can take together.
Hypnosis is a wonderful tool for helping to break unwanted habits and it may help with bed-wetting, provided the problem is not medical. It also helps relieve the stress and anxiety that is almost always felt when children wet the bed.
Source: Sophie Nortje, Hypnoclear.