Posted by AndyM on 1/12/2009, 10:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Hypnosis"

I sought out and received hypnotherapy from a licensed, PhD Psychologist several years ago. Like many others who have reported on the UK and US Sites, it didn't prove to be The Answer. However, for me it wasn't a total loss. I had a history of either total avoidance of public loos or "bailing out" when the going got tough. Hypnotherapy helped me to quit quitting. So it did help me to deal much better with the Avoidant part of Avoidant Paruresis. But compare that to what I've gained from Workshops. 2009 will be the first year I haven't attended one since 2005; the only reason (besides money) I didn't go this year is because I regularly practice with a couple of men I met at my last Workshop. Compared to 2005, I'd say I'm at least 85% improved. Airports,for example,used to be about an 8.9 degree-of-difficulty on the 10-scale. Today, I'd call it about a 4.0: still uncomfortable but always manage to go (EVEN if my first attempt is a no-go; no more quitting). If you consider my progress as 100 Units, I'd say at least 95 of them came out of my Workshop experiences, and only 5 attributable to hypnotherapy. I believe that trying to overcome shy bladder without going to a Workshop is like trying to learn karate by reading about it. --AndyM

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