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Hi guys, just want to encorage any of you thinking of attending a beginners workshop to take the plunge. I attended the one in Manchester run by Andrew & Mert and cannot thank them enough. It was clear on arrival that everyone was feeling quite anxious (unsurprisingly!) but it didn’t take long for everybodys nerves to be calmed as we realised everyone there was completely normal (what a relief!) and we were never going to feel we had to do anything we didn’t want to. I made great progress and am actually looking forward to putting into practise what I’ve learnt. On the last day of the course I managed to use urinals in two different public toilettes & on the journey home I visited 4 motorway service stations and used urinals 3 times! What an improvement! By the end of the course despite feeling tired it almost felt like I’d been on a short holliday and made some great new friends. If you’re thinking you could benefit from a weekend workshop but can’t quite drum up the nerve to go I would urge you to just take the plunge & book it, you won’t regret it. With deepest thanks to Andrew, his wife Jan & Mert for their commitment to helping so many people.
I just want to echo the sentiments expressed by Harry.
I booked onto the workshop with much trepidation. As you can probably imagine meeting up with a bunch of strangers to talk about shy-bladder is not exactly something I tend to do on an ordinary weekend. But my apprehensions soon vanished when I arrived and realised that everyone was in a similar position, making it easy to talk openly about how AP had impacted our lives. In fact, it was a really enjoyable weekend with a mixture of frankness and honesty, as well as lots of good-natured, friendly banter.
Both Andrew and Mert helped to create an atmosphere that was relaxed, open and friendly, and at no stage did I feel under any pressure to do something I wasn’t comfortable with. They gave us a lot of information to take away, much of it I intend to put into over the coming weeks and months. But for me it was their own experiences, reflections, and personal anecdotes which gave me greatest hope and relief that this condition doesn’t have to be a constant blight on my life. The best thing for me is the fact that I am now starting to accept this condition with greater equanimity and calmness.
I would advise anyone thinking of going on a beginner’s workshop to do so.
I want to say a big thank you to Andrew, Mert, and Andrew’s wife Jan, for all their help, advice and support over the weekend.
Just wanted to add my thoughts after attending the Manchester beginners workshop.
I fully agree with Harry and Ian, also;
I have had AP since around '96-'97, not quite sure when or how it started, it just kind of crept up on me and got worse as time went by eventually resulting in me only being able to pee in my own home or some bush or quiet back street alley away from anyone. My full story will appear in a seperate thread when I have finished writing it for anyone who wants to read it.
I booked on the workshop after letting a few possible dates pass me by. It felt like one of the hardest things I have had to push myself to do in life, but as soon as I actually met the workshop leaders and the other folks on the course I knew it was a good choice. Andrew and Mert gave down to earth advice, guidance and information from start to finish - priceless. Hearing it from people who have personal experience of what this condition feels like and have got it sorted is not to be missed by anyone suffering with AP.
Naturally all the participants also knew the feelings of AP only too well, it is refreshing in itself to have contact with others in the same boat in an informal yet confidential environment. Nobody 'bailed out' over the weekend which is another sign that the workshop really is what is needed by anyone with AP. The workshop has given me a great insight into the causes/ origins of my condition and all the info/ methods I need to conquer it (given patience, persistence and hard work on my part).
I am genuinely surprised at the progress I managed to make on the workshop which actually surpassed any expectations I had (these were reasonably low having already read that no 'miracle cure' is offered!) and am immensely grateful to Andrew and Mert for this. That said I will definately need a few follow-up workshops to build on my progress which I almost look forward to!
I would reccommend the workshop to anyone with AP, the worse it is the more you need the workshop, in my experience it doesn't 'just go away'. Nobody is put under any pressure to do anything they don't want to do, in fact you are constantly advised not to.
Thanks again to Andrew, Mert and the rest of the group, I left Manchester with a smile and even checked out the toilets in Piccadilly Station for good measure !
I think the fact that Harry, Ian and Joe's thoughts/feelings about the workshop are not only identical to my own, but are identical in overall positive attitude, serves to highlight just how genuine we are all being.
This is a definite must for anyone who hasn't yet managed to summon the courage to book themselves onto a workshop - regardless of your background or level of severity in terms of the condition itself.
It was amazing that regardless of my being in dire straits - only being able to pee in my own home in complete silence, no visitors - I was made to feel that the workshop catered for me just as much as everyone else, despite the others being unbelievably brave and just diving straight into the gradual exposure like they did. Even though I wasn't able to take part in that aspect of the workshop, I didn't feel the least bit "left behind".
At first, I had difficulties even just using the toilet in my hotel room. Even though the workshop really was a team effort by everyone who took part - the "sufferers", Mert, Andrew and Jan - I have to sing Andrew's praises in particular with this.
He worked with me one-on-one throughout the weekend, never showing signs of running out of patience, always willing to push me on without making me feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, or as though I was being put under pressure. He even placed himself on "standby", so to speak, throughout the first night - leaving his phone on and giving me the option to ring him at any point so that he could give me a lift back to Preston!
I managed to accomplish just what I wanted - to actually be able to use another bathroom - with ease. That alone made me come away from the entire experience with uplifted spirits. What's more, because of what we were taught in the "seminar" side of the workshop, I felt all the more inclined to have a positive attidude about what happened afterwards. I only left Manchester at 7oclock after meeting a friend (needless to say, I claimed I'd just arrived in Manchester upon meeting them - didn't want to breach confidentiality), and had to check out like everyone else.. meaning that the nearest "safe" toilet for me was an hour's train journey away. It was boiling and I couldn't avoid drinking, so I had to get the train back in a pretty uncomfortable position. But, as I've said, because of what we were taught, I wasn't in the least bit disheartened - it's not a failure =).
Don't be put off in any way whatsoever by the disclaimer on this site's starting page ("not medically trained" etc), because the fact that Mert and Andrew have been through this and have such priceless and hearfelt lessons to share, really does work wonders - you couldn't be in safer, more welcoming hands.
Having just completed the beginners workshop this wknd I feel compelled to firstly thank all those involved (course leaders and fellow delegates) and also to wholeheartedly encourage anyone teetering on the brink of booking a future event to definately get themselves along.
I was quite apprehensive for the last few days leading upto going but I'm so glad I went through with it.
For the first time ever I was able to discuss openly within a group my experiences and found so much acceptance and empathy from the others.
For me it was a liberating and very encouraging experience.
Nothing was required of me that fell outside of my comfort zones and only I decided how far to push myself in the excercises.
Perhaps most importantly of all I met some terrific new friends whom I shall enjoy very much keeping in touch with and sharing our ongoing progress and as such no longer feel alone to cope with this.
just to echo the others about how good and positive the weekend was. Thank you to everyone involved for all the support and positive encouragement. I don't feel so daunted by this now and am enjoying making small steps, trying new situations without putting too much pressure on myself so I don't get so frustrated if its not a 'success'. What a lovely group of people to spend an unusual but empowering weekend with
!