Paruresis

Shy bladder syndrome

A person with paruresis finds it difficult or impossible to urinate (wee) when other people are around. Paruresis is a common type of social phobia. Paruresis is often first experienced at school. The condition is also known as 'avoidant paruresis', 'shy bladder syndrome', 'psychogenic urinary retention' and 'pee-phobia'.The condition affects men and women of all races. In mild cases, paruresis is an occasional event, like a form of performance anxiety. For example, a man at a public urinal may find that he is unable to urinate when flanked by other men. In severe cases, a person with paruresis can only urinate when alone at home. 

 Diagnosis methods

Various physiological conditions can hamper urination. Prostatitis, for example, can make urination difficult for affected men. The doctor will usually perform a series of tests to make sure that nothing is physically wrong with your urinary tract. 

• Relaxation techniques – to learn a range of strategies to help reduce anxiety.
• Psychotherapy – a type of counseling that helps you deal with the here and now, and teaches problem solving.
• Cognitive behavior therapy – changing the way you think and behave.
• Graduated exposure therapy – a step-by-step program that involves deliberately trying to urinate in increasingly more difficult places. About eight people out of every 10 with paruresis are helped by graduated exposure therapy.