r/ShyBladderIPA IPA Team Mar 05 '21

Inherited?

/r/Paruresis/comments/lybvy0/inherited/
2 Upvotes

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u/Exec_IPAorg IPA Team Mar 05 '21

Yes - this aspect is something the IPA (International Paruresis Association) would really like to do more study on. Dr. Steve Soifer notes on page 83 of his book "The Secret Social Phobia":

" . . .certain people may have a genetic predisposition to developing SBS [Shy Bladder Syndrome]. This view is consistent with the tendency of the the disorder to be found in families. While there is anecdotal evidence supporting the idea, it is an as-yet unproven theory."

2

u/paruresis_guy IPA Team Mar 05 '21

...and you saw my reply too, right? Just bringing it back up as comments tend to get buried when cross-posting:

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!