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A public message for you Andrew. The reply might be of interest to others. Problem is, since I did the Beginners Workshop in Jan 08 I have gone from strength to strength, and don't have such severe problems when using public loos. But.............when I was in my 20's I got really pissed at a staff do and had no problem with a urinal on that particular night, I always thought when drunk - no problem, the problems used to be when sober, which post-workshop isn't the case. I have discovered recently though I now have a problem when drunk! With constant misfires as a result. No misfires when sober though. Have you come across this one before?
For most guys, being (very) drunk reduces inhibitions sufficiently to allow peeing in very demanding situations (memory of being blasted and peeing happily at a pub trough next to a stranger). But for some guys, being drunk does not help at all; this may be due to the degree of drunkenness?
Getting over paruresis means dealing with both your conscious feelings and fears, and your subconscious reactions. These can get out of step. I have had guys report with amazement that they managed to pee in a situation that really worried them, implying that the subconscious was relaxed, but the conscious was not. In most guys it is the reverse: conscious awareness that there is no threat, but the subconscious not allowing it to happen.
So what is it with you I wonder: I can only guess. Could it be that your routine when sober works, but when drunk you cannot follow this routine?
This needs knowing more about: the effect of alcohol on the autonomic nervous system; and also the interplay between the conscious and unconscious reactions. I am away from home at the moment, but next week will ask a pharmacist and a psychologist about this.
I tend to find alcohol doesn't really help me, although other inhibitions are lowered, peeing doesn't seem to get easier, although it isn't harder either. I think for me its partly that situations where I'm drinking alcohol are also where I've had bad experiences so that raises the sub-concious anxiety. Interesting subject though....