Virtual Support Group

Studies show that nearly 21 million Americans suffer from the social anxiety disorder known as paruresis (par-you-re-sis) or shy bladder syndrome. Paruresis is a phobia in which a person is unable to urinate in the real or imaginary presence of others. To support those with this life-limiting condition, the IPA is excited to announce that its Board of Directors has authorized up to $10,000 in research funding.

Inaccurate headline from an HR law publication regarding Shy Bladder? We’re on the case! Thanks to the eagle eyes of IPA Co-Founder Dr. Steven Soifer, we spotted a small but important inaccuracy from a Human Resources information provider. Their tag line says, “HR Answers You Can Trust.” but can you? Here’s why we put them to the test:

Check your spam folders, please! Today, the IPA rolled out its first email using its new backend office system powered by CharityEngine. If you want to stay up-to-date with our monthly newsletter or workshop updates, please ensure email delivery by marking this message “Not Spam”! Questions? getinfo@paruresis.org

Treatment for Paruresis is based on a concept known as “gradual exposure therapy”. The ultimate goal is to become comfortable voiding in close proximity to others. To test this theory, for two days we binged on bottled water and practiced peeing in a variety of environments. Las Vegas is riddled with challenging scenarios, as there is no escaping the constant hustle and bustle of people. If you can ace peeing at a urinal in a packed casino restroom, there’s a good chance you can transcend paruresis.

As paruretics we learn to accommodate so our day to day lives are less affected, until things change. Maybe it is a new job, moving to a new city, or having to travel that initiates the obsession of – where will I pee? how will I pee? This summer, I grew tired of obsessing and decided to invest in myself and attend the Vegas workshop.

My struggle with shy bladder has pushed me to be a person of action. 10 years ago, I dreamed of doing something awesome to culminate the end of my Air Force career. It wasn’t the standard thing to do and would put me in a situation well outside my comfort zone. Which happens to be exactly what graduated exposure does. Four days after I retired from the Air Force, I set out on a backpacking trip from the US and Mexico border near Lordsburg New Mexico to the eastern part of Yellowstone National Forest in Wyoming along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).

I’m a documentary maker by trade, and I thought this would be a fun and worthwhile side project that would also help keep me accountable in my recovery process. And maybe the film itself would lead to a better, more nuanced understanding of paruresis in the wider world.

93% of humankind does not have paruresis and has been using public bathrooms for their entire lives, from grammar school through university and then in offices/workplaces during their professional careers. These 93% have been practicing daily without knowing they were practicing.

In the following I will present my personal impressions of a workshop visit and then describe how I coped with my paruresis after the workshop. Possibly it will serve as an “inspiration” for the one or the other person concerned to design a personal “training program”.