Bedwetting is a common obstacle that many children experience. Still, it becomes concerning once a child is seven or older, or if they begin to wet the bed without an apparent reason. Wetting the bed at these stages is one of the most common trauma response types seen in children.
At the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, our approach focuses on identifying and understanding potential factors contributing to bedwetting in children and what you can do to manage the issue effectively.
One of Many Childhood Trauma Response Types: Bedwetting
Most children outgrow bedwetting once they reach a certain age and have learned to control their bladders. Children who continue to wet the bed may be doing so due to unresolved emotional or physical trauma.
Bedwetting can occur because of the way trauma and stress can interfere with being able to control the bladder. There are many possible causes why bedwetting is a trauma response type, to name a few:
- Child abuse or sexual abuse by parents, family members, teachers, or caretakers can result in bedwetting as a protective mechanism. It can also be an involuntary action due to stress or fear. If you suspect a child is experiencing any form of abuse, take action immediately by calling 911 or the child abuse reporting hotline in your area. If you know a child who may need help, call The Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home: (205) 924-9751.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be a long-term effect of physical abuse or something as sudden as a car crash. Experiencing similar or related events can trigger a fight-or-flight response that can cause bedwetting or other associated reactions.
- Anxiety, fear, and stress. Some children are more prone to experiencing anxiety, fear, and stress, which can be expressed through bedwetting. Chronic stress, like family issues, bullying, and other anxiety-inducing events, can make it difficult for children to wake up to use the restroom.
Is Bedwetting a Behavioral Issue?
Before we discuss how to help your child with a bedwetting issue, it’s important to note that there is a distinction between unintentional bedwetting during sleep and intentional bedwetting while awake.
True bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) is, by definition, not a behavioral issue. This is because a sleeping child can’t wet the bed intentionally, and reassuring them of that in a way they can understand is essential. It is the most prevalent type of bedwetting.
The type of bedwetting that is a behavioral issue must occur when the child is awake and must be intentional (and not a medical issue affecting bladder control). This is an uncommon type of bedwetting, and very few sources speak on it. However, it does happen.
If you believe your child’s bedwetting is an intentional behavioral issue, reach out to us to make an appointment with our on-campus counselor; she can help you determine the steps to address this issue, which may involve a referral to a specialist in childhood behavioral issues.
Further mentions of bedwetting in this article will be about the unintentional, mid-sleep type of bedwetting.
How You Can Help
If you are concerned that your child’s bedwetting is trauma-related, the first step is to ensure the child feels safe and secure. It’s essential to reassure the child that it isn’t their fault, they aren’t in trouble, and that things won’t always be this way. Let them know that bedwetting is not uncommon and encourage them to always ask for help if they wake up wet in the middle of the night.
The second step is to contact a healthcare provider. They will be able to confirm that the issue is related to trauma (instead of an unknown illness, injury, or disability) and provide guidance on strategies and treatment options. There are many long-term mental and emotional effects of child abuse that require interventions like therapy. Counseling is a powerful tool to provide support for the underlying causes that might’ve influenced bedwetting in the first place.
Healing Support for Children With Trauma
Bedwetting is a prevalent trauma response type for children that can occur for a myriad of reasons. We’ve welcomed many children into the Children’s Home who were dealing with bedwetting due to traumas they faced before living here.
Apart from counseling, these are the things your child needs from YOU to heal from their trauma: encouragement, unconditional love, compassion, patience, and a stable home. Although you cannot undo the trauma your child experienced when they were outside of your care, you have the power to support them on their healing journey.
At the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, our top priority is to provide a home to children struggling with life’s circumstances and counseling services for children and adults in Alabama.
Our low-cost counseling services are for local families who cannot afford professional support. For more information about our counseling services or advice on supporting children with trauma, please reach out to us today.