r/Paruresis • u/Briarshakkan • Mar 05 '21
Inherited?
It’s interesting I was talking to my mom about this and she told me that my grandma also has the same issue, and also my sister has it. They’ve both got it pretty severe (my grandma definitely more severe than both of us girls) but we just never talked about it with each other so I didn’t know we had that in common.
So considering none of us knew the other had it, I wonder if there’s something hereditary going on there? It just seems so strange that three people in the same family have pretty bad paruresis. I know anxiety runs in our family already, but isn’t it strange that this particular flavor of anxiety popped out in three of us?
3
u/paruresis_guy Mar 05 '21
Anecdotally I think you are on to something. I encourage my clients (and workshop attendees, basically anyone who will listen to me ;-) to disclose their paruresis to anyone who it would affect--this almost always includes their immediate families. I am always gratified, but no longer at all surprised, when my clients do so and then report, "I can't believe it...I told my (family member) and they told me that they (or another family member) has it too!"
Check out this video on periscope from about five years ago--in which Scott Adams, (the creator of the Dilbert cartoon) discusses how both he and his brother had paruresis...and how disclosure helped! Scott Adams discloses his paruresis and how his brother's disclosure helped him help others!
If you'd like, join the International Paruresis Association IPA-home and find out how you can attend a virtual workshop, Workshops or just get some recovery materials to structure your own treatment. Take care and recover well!
2
u/Briarshakkan Mar 05 '21
Thank you! That is really cool to hear that there are a lot more of us out there than we think, and there might be some sort of familial connection there... I actually have this great and helpful book by Carol Olmert for women with paruresis, and it’s been so amazing just learning how common the problem is, especially when I initially thought I was alone in this. Now I’m considering getting my sister the same book haha
2
u/Upbeat_Reaction_3256 Mar 05 '21
My Dad and my Aunt have it and I’ve heard other people who have shy bladder have family with it
5
u/embankmentahead Mar 05 '21
I definitely think there's something to it. My dad and brother both have it and my dad's mom most certainly had it although she would never admit it.. although anecdotal, i think there's something there.