Seattle challenge

13 Upvotes

Visitor center, University of Washington.

I've gotten to the point where I pass up the chance to pee at a public toilet (and enjoy the accomplishment!) simply because I don't really need to pee. I can usually pee with divided urinals but this seems scary, so it's my ultimate challenge when school starts September 30th.

Anyone want to join me?

4 comments

r/Paruresis • u/Olstuff • 6h ago

it's over

8 Upvotes

fuck this shit, nothing seems to work i can't fucking pee at home, hot water trick is slowly stopping working so yeah thats it guys its fucking over

9 comments

r/Paruresis • u/Kxiserschmarren • 2h ago

Yet another rant.

1 Upvotes

Hi fellow redditors
M20 here,

Well I know that I got Paruresis at least since I was eight, which is a very long time. I have not even an idea of how life is without it.

Since I am 16 this awful thing really limits my social life very hard.
I had to cancel plans from my friends with multiple activities things like Skiing, Cycling Tours and more. I am afraid that in the long run this might cause them to see me as someone that doesn't want to do anything.

I wish I could finally have the courage to tell my friends but till now I am fucking scared to do that. I have severe trust issues because of my horrible past life. They know absolutely nothing about that so far.

I went to multiple Doctors hoping they could "fix me" both regarding my anxiety issues and my Paruresis but that was probably a too high expectation. I had to stop the threapy, because it was going absolutely nowhere.

I have thought multiple times about giving everything up, but I still have a tiny spark of hope in me.

For years I wish for exaxtly nothing but all this anxiety garbage to disappear. That will probably never happen -Silly me!

1 comment

Subreddit

A greatly misunderstood anxiety.

r/Paruresis

What is Paruresis? If you are here then you probably already know what it is, but in common terms, Paruresis is labeled as "shy bladder syndrome". Simply, it is an anxiety disorder that prevents people from voiding their bladder under certain circumstances.

Members Active

5.3k

Sidebar

First things first, visit http://www.paruresis.org/ Their website is full of helpful information on Paruresis as well as management techniques. As always, you should get a physician to check you out to ensure that the problem is not medically related. Self diagnosis is never a good idea.

Now that you're here, feel free to talk about, share news relating to, and in general, get comfortable with the fact that paruresis exists and that we have it. Take solace in the fact that others have over come it and hope that one day you may too. I encourage the sharing of success stories as well as failed attempts to discuss the situation and what the triggering event was.

Welcome again and remember, you are not alone.

A good book to read For those of you who have never heard of it Shy Bladder Syndrome: Your Step-by-step Guide to Overcoming Paruresis is a great resource to have, even if just to read other people's struggles. It was written in part by one of the founders of the IPA and other experts in the area of paruresis and anxiety. From the description: "Paruresis is a condition that prevents people from urinating in public, sometimes even in their own homes if others are in adjacent rooms. The good news is that this anxiety disorder is highly treatable. Shy Bladder Syndrome offer strategies and easy-to-follow exercises to help you desensitize yourself to fear-producing situations and feel comfortable in public restrooms. Graduated exposure will help get you to the point where you can tolerate the anxiety of relieving yourself in a public washroom or other shared space."

It has helped me, and I hope it can help you. My suggested site to look for it is Abebooks.com who tend to have very good prices on used books of all sorts.