No Longer Hiding: How One Man Broke Free From Decades of Shame Around Bedwetting

My struggles with incontinence began as a teenager. Bedwetting was a major problem, and unfortunately my parents were not exactly understanding. Instead of taking me to see a doctor to get treatment or trying to help, they thought it was laziness or drinking before bed. For several years I was yelled at or punished for accidents until I finally decided to start hiding the problems. Cleaning up in secret at night, washing my own bedding when my parents weren't home, sleeping on top of towels — anything to avoid them knowing the problem still existed.

This made my teenage years a bit lonely. While friends held parties and sleepovers, I had to be the odd man out, making excuses on why I couldn't stay the night with friends, because it's one thing to hide an accident at home but another to do so at someone else's house. My parents were now under the impression that I was no longer having problems because I had gotten so good at hiding it, so I didn't have any protective products I could even wear at friends' houses to prevent embarrassing accidents. I lost a lot of friends because I was starting to be seen as weird and unfun because I wasn't coming to the cool parties and events. This led to me withdrawing into myself, abandoning friends, and rushing through high school, opting to graduate early so I could get out of there and away from the friends I had now lost.

After graduating I got a job, and finally sick of cleaning sheets and towels nightly, I decided to start trying incontinence briefs at night. At first it was just whatever store brands I could afford from my local grocery store, and for a while things felt better. No more late-night wake-ups to change sheets, throwing down towels, spraying cleaners to mask odors.

My self-confidence grew quickly. I felt like I at least had a grasp on things and felt confident enough to get back out into the world making friends and even dating. I finally made friends again, stayed the night places, and even started dating.

Dating led me to my current wife, who is the one who pointed me towards online retailers like NorthShore for better products, as she had several family members who had dealt with incontinence as well.

Now I am happily married at 36, with a 15-year-old child and a new baby on the way. No longer ashamed of my incontinence, no longer spending restless nights changing bedding constantly, and no longer having to hide my condition.

 

Thank you for reading our customer stories. NorthShore works to remove the confusion and isolation surrounding incontinence, helping individuals better understand that “incontinence is very common, often treatable, and regardless, very manageable.” — Adam Greenberg, President & Founder of NorthShore We are grateful for the opportunity to share these journeys and provide products that help people live life to the fullest. Learn more about sharing your story through the NorthShore Hero Club. Have a story to share? Submit it below to help others feel less alone.

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