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©2013 UpToDate ® Print Email Bladder training instructions These methods are to help you regain bladder control; think of it as "mind over bladder." 1. Start by going to the toilet and trying to pass urine every two hours while you are awake. Or, your health care provider may have you start with time interval based on a bladder diary result. You do not have to get up during the night! 2. You must try to pass urine whether you feel the need or not. You must try to pass urine even if you have just been incontinent. 3. If you get a strong urge to go to the bathroom before your scheduled time: Stop, don't run to the bathroom! Stand still or sit down if you can. RELAX. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Concentrate on making the urge decrease or even go away, anyway you can (imagine the pressure becoming less and less). When you feel IN CONTROL OF YOUR BLADDER, walk slowly to the bathroom, and then go. 4. Keep this schedule until you can go two days without urine leakage. Then, increase the time between scheduled trips to the toilet by one hour. When you can go two days without urine leakage, extend the time between trips again. 5. Keep this up until you can go four hours between trips to the toilet (which is NORMAL), or until you are comfortable. This may take several weeks. 6. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! Bladder training takes time and effort, but it is an effective way to get rid of incontinence without medication or surgery.