Paruresis: The Secret Phobia Of Bath

It is known that the fear of public speaking is one of the most widespread social phobias, but few imagine that the second most widespread phobia requires sufferers to keep a shameful secret that prevents them from seeking help, in fact, this phobia occurs more shame than impotence or incontinence.

This is the shy bladder syndrome or paruresis, which is estimated to affect 7% of the U.S. population and elsewhere.

Steven Soifer, executive director of the International Association of paruresis, explains in dramatic terms:

"For someone who is a chronic paruretic, if someone put a gun to your head and say 'you have to pee or die', that person would die."

The person with paruresis have trouble urinating in places other than the bathroom of his house, so many try to avoid paruretics it possible to use public restrooms. They are afraid that other people realize their trouble urinating in public situations, so that their fear is reinforced itself in a vicious circle.

Steven Soifer explains it this way: "When we are afraid our body is produced in a reaction of adrenaline and the body automatically closes the internal sphincter muscle. It is a protection, because if you are running for his life, the last thing you want do is stand to pee. "

This fear of urinating in public can be caused by a traumatic event during childhood.

"When I was a boy in fifth grade, I went to the bathroom and some guys importuned me. Then I went to the toilet and they tried to break down the door. I'm pretty sure that's what happened and why I have the problem," says Soifer.

It is not always possible to identify a specific event as the cause of paruresis, and although we identified, this knowledge is useless for treating this condition.

This social phobia as well as being virtually unknown to the general public is also ignored by many health professionals, such as urologists and psychologists.

It is also ignored by government authorities. In the United States paruretics have to face the possibility of being prompted for a drug test, which calls for a urine sample under supervision. Paruretics Some have lost their jobs for not being able to provide a urine sample when required.

The person with paruresis becomes hostage to the bathroom "safe" closer. It affects the daily life of the person who suffers, it affects the work and social life. Because of paruresis the person is forced to reject many social invitations, to the astonishment of his friends, who can not explain his strange behavior.

It affects relationships. There paruretics dare not confess this disease to your partner.

The first reaction of those who first hear about this social phobia may be taking a joke, but paruresis is not no joke for the sufferer.

The paruretic Alan W. Court admits in a tone of bitterness: "Gladly would give up my life savings to get rid of this. It could even cut a finger or two, if that will solve my problem. Did I mention that some of us put a tube penis? ".

As extreme as some people with paruresis choose to empty the bladder with a catheter, which is a thin tube is inserted through the urethral duct to reach the bladder.

Most reported cases of paruresis are men. They often feel that this condition diminishes their manhood. Women have the advantage of not having to deal with urine, so they experience more privacy.

Gradually the subject of paruresis is coming to light. Some U.S. TV programs refer to paruresis sporadically, such as an episode of "Two and a Half Men" in which Alan can not urinate in front of his girlfriend of 22 years, until she sings " Song of pee. "

With the advent of the Internet many people have come to realize that your condition has a name, and they are not alone. Just knowing this can be a great relief.

And the good news for those who suffer from paruresis is that there are treatments available to all who do not require spending large amounts of money on psychotherapy sessions to get experience significant improvement. The gradual exposure therapy has succeeded in changing the lives of many paruretics.