Posted by Jane on 5/7/2008, 12:11 pm

Hello - I only discovered this site (and that this condition has a name) quite recently, having suffered from paruresis for around 40 years (I am 61). I first sought help several years ago from a hypnotherapist, have seen three but it did not really help. Two years ago I plucked up courage to see my GP, she said she would send me for CBT but there would be a long wait, I recently chased it up and was told no referral to a therapist had been made as there was no availability (but they didn't tell me!). However the GP arranged for me to see the mental health nurse at the practice, she has been really helpful, found me a book and website, and when I see her again soon she is going to arrange for me to see the practice nurse about catheters. I've found messages on this site about catheters very reassuring and encouraging so thanks if you posted one of those. I'm telling you all this just to show it is really worth persevering! I'm on the list to attend a beginner's workshop, and it would be so good if there was another woman there, so if you've been thinking about it do please come. If there is another lady out there who lives in or near Norfolk, and would be interested in making contact with a view to maybe being 'buddies' for graduated exposure therapy that would be great too! Just knowing that there are other people out there and that I am not alone with this problem helps, I'd like to hear about your experiences, any improvements you've been able to make or just to chat. And if there are any men reading this, I feel really sorry for you with the way your toilets are - it must even worse for you than us females, no wonder there are more men. Good luck everyone, Jane

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