Posted by Gary Kirk on 6/8/2009, 12:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Didn't know this had a name"

I have suffered from this condition for as far back as I can remember. I remember going to the urinal at primary school and trying to pee before anyone else came along. It took a while before my urine would flow. Sometimes I could not pee due to panicking excessively that someone else would come along. At discos there was usually only one cubicle, which was often occupied. Invariably I had to leave the venue and do the toilet outside. This problem has caused me major inconvenience over the years. Additionally I thought I was small and would fantasise to take semi-erections whilst changing in front of others to make myself look bigger. My doctor said that there was nothing wrong with me. I demanded to see a urologist who also said there was nothing wrong with me. I then demanded through my urologist to see a pysychatrist. The psychiatrist told me that there was nothing wrong with me and was dismissive of my problems. He later sent a medical report to my doctor stating that I was suffering from hallucination and was likely to become schizophrenic within 5 years. This caused me problems in my then employment and then re-gaining employment. I am presently a successful science teacher with an exemplary attendance record. This year - a quarter of a century later - I have at long last learnt that I suffer from body dysmorphia and paruresis. I am seeing my doctor today to ask for cognitive behaviour therapy.

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