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Feedback Manchester Follow-Up Workshop 26-28 July 2013
Posted by Peter on 29/7/2013, 9:34 am
Hi,
I attended a beginners workshop in London in May last year, and hadn't been able to attend a follow-up one till now. I had been able to practice in the town centre where I work in between times. However, often the toilets were empty which was fine in terms of practicing using urinals, but not fine in terms of having other people in the toilet.
On the Friday evening, when the first desensing session took place, I have to admit that I struggled. When another guy was near me, I couldn't go and waited him out before I could go.
When we finished the workshop for the evening, and went to Wetherspoons, again I struggled to go. So I was a little apprehensive about the following days' practice sessions.
After fluid loading (getting myself to the required level of urgency), a group of us set off around Manchester - not to see the sights, but to have a grand tour of all the Gents loos in the city centre! The knowledge that the other guys were in a similar situation to me, and understood what I was going through, meant the pressure I felt on the Friday evening lifted, and each time I was able to go.
On the way home from the course, I was also able to go at the services, which was a true test as someone else was already in there.
I don't want readers to think that the two workshops are miracle cures. They do, however, provide everyone who attends with plenty of practice, at whatever stage they are at, in a very supportive environment. The discussion sessions are particularly helpful, as through sharing, you realise that what you think/feel is often the same as other people, so you don't feel like you're on your own.
How my progress will go from here is unknown. However, I have the positive experience of the workshops to look back on when things don't go so well, I have the notes to refer to, and I know that I can contact Andrew for specific and personal advice if need be. I would also not have any hesitation in attending another follow-up workshop if I felt this was appropriate for me.
I can't stress how finding UKPT and attending the beginners and follow-up workshops have helped me with my AP.
For anyone who suffers from this, please don't suffer in silence or on your own. Attend a workshop, meet great guys and look to the future with confidence.
Re: Feedback Manchester Follow-Up Workshop 26-28 July 2013
I joined this workshop having done the initial one well over a year ago. I'd made a fair bit of progress in that time and felt far more accepting of my AP in general but still felt I could make the successes more regular by doing a follow-up workshop.
And in that I wasn't disappointed. Encouraged by the familiarity of the workshop environment Andrew creates, the fact I was in a strange town and didn't know any of the other participants didn't matter.
So have come away with some new personal milestones, have progressed up my hierarchies, and am determined to work to allow this anxiety to shrink away.
Re: Feedback Manchester Follow-Up Workshop 26-28 July 2013
I had been to a beginners' workshop about 6 months ago and although I'd come away from that feeling a lot better about my "secondary" AP (i.e. how much meaning I attached to the problem in my head, rather than the physical problem itself), I had become lazy at practising desensing in the meantime and felt that the follow-up workshop would provide a great opportunity to "revise", so to speak.
I'm really glad I came because, as Peter and Angus have said, the encouragement from Andrew and the other participants and the familiarty of the workshop environment help so much - it's good to be reminded that everyone who suffers from this is normal (whatever that is!) and the I think most of us managed a milestone or 2 in the desense sessions. For me, it's all about transferring that workshop mindset into everyday life, and practice, practice, practice. I somehow managed to go in a trough urinal in a bar the following night with someone else standing there (unheard of!), so I know it's possible....
Re: Feedback Manchester Follow-Up Workshop 26-28 July 2013
The above posters have summed it up pretty well so I'll just add my two cents.
The workshop was a great help for me too - mainly in terms of accepting that I need to put the work in, and not feeling so self-conscious standing at a urinal. I would definitely encourage anyone contemplating it to go for it!
Re: Feedback Manchester Follow-Up Workshop 26-28 July 2013