U.K. PARURESIS TRUST: I have had enough of this.

Hi,

(I am SO sorry this is so long. I only really have one question at the end the rest is just background/history.)

Just a quick introduction, my name is Emily, I am an 18 year old female, live in England and have been suffering with this (paruresis) for as long as I can remember.

I am effectively coping with it, in that I go out and live a day-to-day life, however most of my daily life is somewhat based around this. I am unable to use public bathrooms, and frequently have to come home during free periods at college and breaks at work, which is gradually destroying my social life to the point of non-existence. Although, luckily both of these places are within a 15minute walk.

In September I am due to start university. I am going to uni in my home town due to family reasons, but my decision was also swayed by this problem. Uni is within an easily commutable distance.

However. Next summer (2010) I have the opportunity to go abroad to somewhere I have wanted to go to for a long time. This is my problem. I SO badly want to go on this trip, but right now, that isn't a feasible option. The sole reason for this is paruresis.

This got me thinking about how much of my life has been destroyed by this, and I finally feel able to talk about it now, and overcome being ashamed to get help. I just keep thinking now how much better/how much more free I would be not having this problem.

So. I thought about my options.

(My current situation is: the only place I am able to pee is at home, and sometimes not even then if I am stressed about it.)
1. CBT or counselling. I have previously had CBT for this problem, and it was partly successful (being able to go in non time pressured situations in bathrooms away from home where I felt safe most of the time) however this then failed and went back to before the CBT.
2. Do nothing and be miserable.
3. Catheters. I feel that this would be the best option, as it would:
a) allow me to pee away from home in very stressful situations
b) give me a "plan B". If I am stressed about peeing I can usually work through the "I can come back in 10 minutes" & "people probably don't care if they hear you" at home, but the one thing that always gets me is the "If I don't pee now, I will have to wait for [long amount of hours]" i.e. if going on a long car journey and not being able to go on the journey. I feel that if I have a "plan B" I will be able to work past that to the point of not actually having to use "plan B" just knowing its there.

Question:

How do I gain access to catheters? From this message board I have found http://www.coloplast.co.uk/ which seems good as it is a UK company and has compact ones I could take travelling / seem easy to use, etc. I don't seem to be able to order off the website.

What am I supposed to do? Should I see my GP to ask about it? Will they definitely allow me to use it (i.e. not make me attend CBT)? I am happy to order them myself but to register on the site to buy you need to enter GP details. I'm a bit confused!

Thank you for any help, and apologies for the length! Emily xox