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844-I-CANT-PEE (422-6873) getinfo@paruresis.org

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This is Oliver…

This is Oliver. Why am I sharing this picture of an adorable little kitty? Last night I went to a college friend’s house. We’re sitting around having a few drinks and I have to use the bathroom which is down around the corner from where we’re all sitting. So, I go there and the “lock” is a tiny hook-and-eye set-up that is very sketchy and leaves a small crack in the door opening.

Flight 282

You have to understand, I am not afraid of flying in an airplane. As a kid, I loved the movement and motion of flying. But for the past fifty-five years, I haven’t flown very often at all. This all started because of an incident that happened at the end of the summer of 1968. 

Are we “weirdos”?

“I’m wondering if the people who are members in the IPA are a bunch of weirdos. I mean, they have to be, right?”

I’m sure this question has crossed your mind. 15+ years ago when I first learned about the International Paruresis Association I know I thought it.

Virtual Support Group Hits Record

The IPA Virtual Support Group is facilitated on a volunteer basis by myself and Steve Weinraub about once a month, and we hit a record on Sunday, August 28, with 31 participants. They included people from all over the United States, as well two people from the United Kingdom and one from Poland, and the age level ranged from early 20’s to late 70’s.

Three Success Stories

There are a great many things about the support work that I do on behalf of the IPA that provide me with personal satisfaction, but there is something truly special about supporting another guy during his first public graduated exposure experience. It brings great joy because I know that it can set him on a path which could lead to recovery,

Virtual GE – Does it work?

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which has become the most widely accepted treatment for Paruresis, uses a model of graduated exposure (GE) based upon public in-person practice with a “pee buddy” from a local support group or an empathetic friend or family member, a model which has shown itself to be highly effective. In March of 2020, however, that model became difficult if not impossible to use as social venues closed down and personal contact outside of immediate family became severely limited, and the idea of virtual GE practice, following the same general procedure but done over video chat from a home bathroom, came to be used as an alternative.

A Prisoner Speaks

Thank you so much for responding back to my letter! I have to be honest with you, when I received the package and seen who it was from it almost brought me to tears. I’m almost in tears now just thinking about it. I have felt so alone and hopeless dealing with my condition since I thought I was all alone. Finally someone knows how I feel and knows the type of issues I face on a daily basis.

When will fair drug testing be available to all?

True story. The IPA was contacted by a municipal worker who is an eight year employee with a clean employment record. He’s always had difficulty with providing annual samples and then he failed a test. For employers who must follow Department of Transportation rules, this instance is labeled a “refusal” to provide a sample and counts as a “failure.” To maintain his employment, he was put on a program of more frequent drug testing – which, you guessed it, he failed.

INTERNATIONAL PARURESIS ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 21237
Catonsville, MD 21228

You Are Not Alone.
There Is Help For You!

Shy Bladder, Bashful Bladder, Pee Shy

 IPA OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday
10:00am - 6:00pm (ET)

844-I-CANT-PEE (422-6873)
US/Canada
443-315-5250 Office

Email: getinfo@paruresis.org

This website is NOT a substitute for medical or legal advice and does not constitute the practice of law, medicine, psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work, or any other mental health profession. If you are having trouble urinating, you should always contact a physician since difficulty with voiding can be a symptom of a serious medical condition. We are a group of professional people and people who have suffered with paruresis. We have assembled a board and a board of advisors to help people cope with urinary dysfunction that has a psychological or social origin. On this website, we are NOT practicing medicine, psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work or any other mental health profession. You should have your doctor evaluate your condition before diagnosing yourself, and seek the appropriate necessary mental health counseling if warranted. IPA, Inc. disclaims any and all legal liability whatsoever.