Posted by Mike on 10/7/2009, 10:24 pm

just been to a big gig in London when my problem became a real issue. I struggle to pee in public urinals when there are lots of other guys there. It's not a problem when I can find a quiet corner away from others but sometimes that isn't possible and then my problem becomes a nightmare. i think it started when I went to the loos and was unable to pee while there were others stood near me. Now I have a fear of not being able to pee while others are around - even if a few minutes earlier I was desperate to go - and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I find I stand there and no more than a trickle occurs. This makes my anxiety worse and that makes it even harder to pee and then I just die of embarrassment and fear of ridicule or worse - accusations and questions of what am I doing there when it isnt for a pee. This mean that at a recent gig I had to use a cubicle. This meant having to wait in a long slow queue - making my g/f wait for ages for my return - not good!!! Festivals are Ok as I can use the long-drops and/or porta-loos as they are private (no over-lookers) but now at the age of 53 it's time I did something about this. What can I do about this? I now realize I am not on my own but I am not sure that helps when I am in the middle of a very crowded gents loo. I like the idea of holding my breath (from another discussion posting). Does closing your eyes work? Are there any simple steps to take? Should I seek the help of a hypnotherapist or NLP counsellor? Any suggestions?

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