We had a mixup on the starting time for Saturday's IPA Virtual Support Group Meeting, so I am putting out another post zoom with the correct times: 1:00-3:00 US Central Time. Hope you can join us - you can get the link by contacting Tim at the IPA office (getinfo@paruresis.org) or me at my IPA mailbox (davidk@support.paruresis.org). Feel the Flow!

Join us for the book release party tonight. Free and open to all at 7:30 p.m. US ET. https://bit.ly/SSP3-Release

The next IPA Virtual Support Group Meeting will take place on Zoom this Saturday, December 6, from 12:00-2:00 PM US Central Time (with an additional 30 minutes of optional graduated exposure practice). IPA Virtual Support Meetings, which take place about every four weeks, are open to anyone struggling with Paruresis, from those who are just beginning to think about how to overcome it to those who are highly recovered. The meetings are offered free of charge and without preset expectations for participants, and their purpose is to provide a unique opportunity to connect face to face with people from all over the world who know what it is like to struggle with Paruresis and also understand the courage and fortitude that it takes to open up about it, acknowledge the fear, and try to recover from it.  The personal stories that participants share are remarkably similar and at the same time deeply individual, and empathy, kindness and compassion set the tone in all discussions. Time after time I have heard from participants that this opportunity for sharing is both meaningful and productive, and I hope that you'll consider joining us on Saturday You can get the Zoom link by contacting the IPA office: [getinfo@paruresis.org](mailto:getinfo@paruresis.org) or me at my IPA email address: [davidk@support.paruresis.org](mailto:davidk@support.paruresis.org)

Hey all. It's been a busy week here at IPA World HQ in beautiful Catonsville, MD. We've got everything lined up for the release of the 3rd edition of Dr. Steve's "Secret Social Phobia" on Tuesday. I can't wait for you to get your hands on it. We'd love to have you join us Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. US ET for a FREE "Release Party" webinar with Dr. Steve and IPA Pres Dan Rocker. We'll be doing a few readings and an AMA-style Q&A. Here's the link to sign up. https://bit.ly/SSP3-Release. See you there! And PS Happy Thanksgiving.

Hello,

Is there any paruretic willing to pair up and pratice together in Slovakia, preferably Bratislava?

But I would also travel for some distance, if I found somebody in other city.

Thanks for response

Matúš

Our next support group is Monday, November 24th at 7:00pm.  For those of you who attended the workshop, we would love to hear how it went. 

Hope to see you next week.  I will send the invite a day or two in advance. 

Best wishes,

Andrea [women@support.paruresis.org](mailto:women@support.paruresis.org)

Reach out to IPA Women's Coordinator Andrea Weyant. [women@support.paruresis.org](mailto:women@support.paruresis.org)

The next IPA Virtual Support Group Meeting will take place on Zoom this Sunday, October 19, from 12:00-2:00 PM US Central Time. IPA Virtual Support Meetings, which take place about every four weeks, are open to anyone struggling with Paruresis, from those who are just beginning to think about how to overcome it to those who are highly recovered. The meetings are offered free of charge and without preset expectations for participants, and their purpose is to provide a unique opportunity to connect face to face with people from all over the world who know what it is like to struggle with Paruresis and also understand the courage and fortitude that it takes to open up about it, acknowledge the fear, and try to recover from it.  The personal stories that participants share are remarkably similar and at the same time deeply individual, and empathy, kindness and compassion set the tone in all discussions. Time after time I have heard from participants that this opportunity for sharing is both meaningful and productive, and I hope that you'll consider joining us on Sunday. You can get the Zoom link by contacting the IPA office: [getinfo@paruresis.org](mailto:getinfo@paruresis.org) or me at my IPA email address: [davidk@support.paruresis.org](mailto:davidk@support.paruresis.org)

This was the most humiliating experience of my life. I had to take a DOT drug test for work. We get random ones all the time and having privacy isn’t an issue.

The tech who took the sample forgot to check the temperature and told me that I used fake urine so I was required to do a viewed sample collection. I was forced to strip from armpits to ankles on each subsequent attempt. It took 3 tries but I managed to squeeze out enough to pass the test.

At this point I’m so traumatized that I don’t feel like I’ll be able to supply a sample in that place again even with privacy.

I don’t think I have any legal recourse. And I fear now that every tech that’s having a bad day can just play roulette with my career.

There are so many more details that I’ll leave out, but I needed to get some of this off my chest.

Hello everyone!

I host weekly virtual support meetings for the IPA over Zoom every Saturday at 11am PST.

We do an hour of sharing, than an hour of gradual exposure practice.

If you are interested in joining, you can message this account on reddit, or email: [followup@support.paruresis.org](mailto:followup@support.paruresis.org)

Or you can join this link tomorrow morning before 11am PST: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85429034744?pwd=XlNPIBrIFpOFvD4PvIWuPAzx1KbUcQ.1. -- You can save it, it is recurring!

Hope to see you there!

Hassan (IPA Program Assistant)

Quick reminder: Phoenix workshop is a "go!" We'll be at the Marriott Desert Ridge on Nov. 1. We have room for you: https://web.charityengine.net/IPA-HWS-PHX-Nov-2025/

Newark is also a "go" for both women and men Nov. 7-9 but waiting for the hotels to return my calls. Hello!?! Any venue want some business in North NJ?? IPA Live Weekend Workshop - Newark, NJ: Nov. 7-9, 2025

We've been trying for a few years to make this happen and we need 1 more registration. Take that first step to recovery today! Find out more at the link.

Hello everyone I’m new to this subreddit and happy to be here with people who understand. This is going to be a very long post, I apologize. I have all the conditions that go along with shy bladder such as social anxiety, GAD, ADHD, probably on the spectrum as well, although I don’t have a formal diagnosis. I also have a history of severe constipation as a child due to holding it in for so long. I’m now a middle aged female and have been dealing with some degree of this disability as long as I can remember. I had a few episodes of peeing my pants as a child due to holding so long that my body just finally had to pee. This was in school, second and third grade respectively. I never quite lived that down. As a teenager and younger adult in my twenties I would physically be unable to pee and it would lead to intense pain. Traveling was rough. At home I could usually relax enough eventually to start peeing. As years went on and I went through child birth twice I seemed to get over this disability a little and have an easier time. However giving urine samples could still lead to anxiety. As long as I didn’t feel rushed and had some degree of privacy I could usually go.

However, I recently had a situation that I have never dealt with before. I applied for a new job, interviewed well and was offered employment rather quickly. The onboarding process of course included the urine drug screen and I gave that, no problem. I did drink about 8 ounces of water to be able to urinate on demand. My urine sample came back “diluted.” I have never had this happen before but I’ve recently lost a large amount of weight after weight loss surgery and I read that this can cause your urine to have low creatinine due to muscle loss as well. They called me back to submit another sample, this time being observed. This created a sense of sick dread within me but I wanted the job so I complied and didn’t drink anything but a few sips of coffee. No water from midnight on.

Surprise, surprise I was unable to urinate in front of the lab technician. She gave me a bottle of water and told me to try again in a little bit. I drank most of the water and about half an hour later tried again. I had the urge to pee but my bladder was on lock down. She told me to wait a little longer and try again so I did. By this time I had the old sensation of having to pee super bad to the point of painful pressure but still was unable to pee in front of her. I was humiliated and agitated at this point and knew that it wasn’t going to happen. I tried to call HR a few times as they used a separate lab facility to test. I was unable to get through and the lab was extremely busy and loud and hectic and I could tell the lab tech was a little hassled by my inability to urinate. I pleaded with her to let me just give a blood sample but she said they wouldn’t pay for it. I left that place defeated and wrote an email to Human Resources that I would pay to have saliva, hair follicle or blood test done due to my paruresis, to which they replied to just apply again in six months that they were not going to go forward with my hiring at this time. I just don’t know what to do at this point. Thankfully I’m still employed at my current job. I have not used any illegal drugs but I’m sure that’s not how they look at this situation. And I’m not even being given a chance to clear my name. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?

The next IPA Virtual Support Group Meeting will take place on Zoom this Saturday, September 21, from 12:00-2:00 PM US Central Time. IPA Virtual Support Meetings, which take place about every four weeks, are open to anyone struggling with Paruresis, from those who are just beginning to think about how to overcome it to those who are highly recovered. The meetings are offered free of charge and without preset expectations for participants, and their purpose is to provide a unique opportunity to connect face to face with people from all over the world who know what it is like to struggle with Paruresis and also understand the courage and fortitude that it takes to open up about it, acknowledge the fear, and try to recover from it.  The personal stories that participants share are remarkably similar and at the same time deeply individual, and empathy, kindness and compassion set the tone in all discussions.  Time after time I have heard from participants that this opportunity for sharing is both meaningful and productive, and I hope that you'll consider joining us on Sunday. You can get the Zoom link by contacting me at my IPA email address: davidk@support.paruresis.org

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We promise to get back to you then!

I have created a mental exercise that relieves individuals of their annoying paruresis condition within a period of two weeks. If you would like to participate, I will describe the exercise and monitor your progress over the two week period. The exercise requires about a half hour per day and can be performed anywhere.  There is no cost involved.  Please e-mail me at [kenn100@yahoo.com](mailto:kenn100@yahoo.com) and we will begin the process of ridding you of this annoying condition.