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Conditions

Paruresis

Shy bladder can be a nightmare!

Have you ever been bursting for a wee, but found that you couldn’t go because other people were present? Well, don’t worry, you might be left dying for the toilet, but Paruresis (or ‘Bashful Bladder’ as it’s otherwise known) won’t kill you. This social anxiety disorder affects around 4 million men and women in the UK and can impact heavily on their daily lives. The most common manifestation of the condition is men who cannot urinate at a urinal and instead find themselves standing next to unzipped, exposed and free-flowing men, as if just a casual observer. Women can also find it difficult to urinate in a cubicle if there are people near by. The condition is caused by a neurological shutdown of the sphincter valves that when open allow urine to flow, but it is completely involuntary. However, several physical and cognitive therapy techniques have been devised to help people cope with this problem.

If you’re suffering from any of the conditions featured on this site and want to apply for an onscreen consultation with one of the EB team then you can find more details here >>

Remember that you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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I found myself being interrupted in a public toilet last night in a club for a prolonged time of twenty minutes. Someone started being sick in the cubicle next to me, and other girls were banging on my toilet door telling me to hurry up. When I'd given up trying, knowing that I wouldn't be able to pee with all the noise, I still couldn't leave through sheer embarrassment of being in there too long and worrying what the girls on the outside would think I'd been doing. The situation I'd found myself in ended abruptly after the twenty minutes, when a female bouncer escorted me out of the club for assuming I was doing cocaine in the cubicle. Paruresis has some damning effects.





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My problem is I can't wee after several hours of drinking alcohol on a weekend, for exanple: if I go out at 7pm, by 12/1am I can't pass urine, it just trickles out. throughout the week my flow is fine although I have suffered with cystitis and water infections for years, I don't now so don't understand what the problem is? I've had a sti check and I'm clear. I get to the stage through the night when I'm out and whilst still in the pubs/clubs and I find I have to push and force my wee out? Anybody else have this problem? And any solutions that can stop this happening, seems the alcohol puts a blockage over my bladder :/





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how do you fix this problem?





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the sound of running water can help, or wetting your mouth with water is even better (if you have a bottle on you - not from the toilet!!) Joking aside , it really helps

hi i'm 15yrs and i have a shy bladder. it all started when secondary school started i would go for a wee and phisically could not get any wee out and it has affected me ever since. when i am at home and my mates come round and i need a wee i stand at the toilete for ages and try to block all the noise out and still can not go it makes me upset sometimes and i do not know what to do. i always feel low when i go out somewhere far away and i try to not drink but does not work when i go to the services toilets again i can not go people just keep talking and slam doors.i have cryed about this but it does not get you anywere. when there is school i stop drinking at a certain time so i do not get desperate for the toilet when i am at school but it never works and i just do not know where to turn to. but you only get one lucky day where you can go and you feel great. but it never lasts and i do not know what to do. Thank you





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iv got to say listening to my loud music through my headphones helps because you cant hear yourself or other people around you... i tried all the breathing techniques and i found it didn't help as much where you music is a simple cure as long as you have it on you... :) good luck





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I am the author of the book ULTIMATE PARURESIS GUIDE It was firstly published in europe in german language but it later got translated into English. At boldbladder com one can get a PDF Version of it. Regards





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Every night i have to keep urinating so i get broken sleep. i have to go about 5 or 6 times . ive stopped drinking anything after 6pm but it dosent make much difference. Have i got an infection? it dosent smell nor burn. Thanks





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Hey, I'm a 13(nearly 14) year old female; and I think I have a shy bladder? At home I can sit in the toilet for ages playing music and only do a drop of wee. I also only go for a wee once or twice a day. And when it comes to pooing I rarely go..I go like every 3/4 days. I can't go a wee in public toilets ether! I don't even go at school! And when I'm on my period I don't go a wee- I only change my towels every couple of hours. It's all driving me mad and I want it to stop! I want to feel normal again but I don't know how..can anyone help me please?:L





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i often find myself not being able to pee in public toilets, either in the urinal or in the cubicle. This may be down to me having ocd but i still can't do it. I even have this trouble at home even though i live alone. I'd rather find a quiet corner of my garden and go there cos i'd be able to focus then but for obvious reasons i don't do this. It's the same when i go out somewhere with friends, and even worse on car journeys. Can anyone help with this problem and offer any advice





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Hi, My name's Steve, I'm a 23 Y/O male. I seem to have problems going for a wee.. Although I know I really need to wee, I'll get in the toilet and nothing happens. So I fins my seld standing in the toilet for about 10minutes before any thing happens. Sometimes it gets so painful and I still can't wee, So I have to poor hot water over the top of my penis which then makes me wee. I feel like such a freak :( It's really embarrassing. What can be causing this problem?? And can I do or buy anything to help me go to toilet like a normal person??? Please help me. Regards Steve.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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