Posted by mark on 5/8/2013, 12:40 pm

Hi all. I've suffered with a certain level of paruresis for most of my adult life. That level was; 1. Impossible to use a urinal even when the whole room was empty (for fear of someone coming in). 2. Impossible to go (even in a cubicle) if there was a queue or other time constraint involved. 2. Able to go in a cubicle only if the room was not busy or if it was completely enclosed. So, not too bad really. Recently however, things have become much worse. During a recent trip abroad a felt i wanted to pee just before boarding the plane. I had already successfully gone in the same toilet an hour or so before. However, this time, people saw me go into the cubicle and there were lots of comings and goings. The upshot was, i couldn't go. I tried to go while on the plane (which i have done with no problems before) and i couldn't. the list of failures to pee goes on, ending with me unable to even go in a totally private disabled toilet. I now only have to look at a public toilet and i feel fear and anxiety, even if i don't want to use it. I am desperate. I feel I am trapped as i cannot go out and socialise anymore because i cant use the loos in restaurants, bars etc. I gave up drinking about a year ago. Maybe this has something to do with the worsening of my condition? sorry for the long post and coming in full tilt like this but I'm truly at my wits' end.

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