Public bathroom shyness

[Slinkygoldfish]

does anyone else struggle with public bathroom shyness? For some reason I just can’t even pee in public. It’s like a mental block and no matter what I tell myself I won’t be able to

[Sillysausage234]

count back from hundred it distracts the over anxious mind ,takes practice but works…..before you know it you’lle be able to sprinkle that tinkle

[kenster1 in reply to Sillysausage234]

if you sprinkle when you tinkle please be neat and wipe that seat think that`s how it goes.

[Sillysausage234 in reply to kenster1]

that’s good advice Kenster1 ….or lift the seat up first

[kenster1 in reply to Sillysausage234]

I remember a neighbour had a picture with that saying on it in his bathroom

[Sillysausage234 in reply to kenster1]

Or toilets closed tomorrow do as much as you can today

[Hidden in reply to Sillysausage234]

If you miss clean the floor as well. And the ceiling, the walls.....😂

[Dolphin14]

Slinkygoldfish

That's a tough one. I would make sure I didn't have large volumes fluid before I went out.

🐬

[Sillysausage234 in reply to Dolphin14]

thats Good advice d14 …that way avoiding weirdos who hang around public conveniences too

[Dolphin14 in reply to Sillysausage234]

SS

Absolutely, safety first. Go out with an empty bladder and you have no worries

❤️🐬

[Sillysausage234 in reply to Dolphin14]

Hopefully poster has a few suggestions

[Dolphin14 in reply to Sillysausage234]

I hope we can help in some way. It's hard on a road trip not to stop. I'm not sure what i would do.

[Sillysausage234 in reply to Dolphin14]

….

There’s always a solution to a problem

[kenster1 in reply to Sillysausage234]

I thought that was for cleaning windows.

[Hidden in reply to kenster1]

🤣🤣

[Arymretep in reply to Sillysausage234]

There’s also a male version 👍

[Sillysausage234]

Or a washable she wee

[Sillysausage234]

yes you can style it in the car ,look in the mirror like your applying makeup

[AnxiousSilver]

Believe it or not, this is actually a thing for some people.

For me, I can only go in a stall away from people.

[kenster1 in reply to AnxiousSilver]

I hardly ever use the urinals wasn`t comfortable with something someone said many years ago sort of stuck with me yeah it was a joke he also had a disability but it`s still stuck.

[AnxiousSilver in reply to kenster1]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[Mohammad-341]

I used to feel as a kid, sometimes i do but anyhow manage to do it, not a big issue

[MaggieSylvie]

Wait until you hear someone else peeing, and then join in! Or do it silently - just find the right angle.

[punkster]

My husband does, and he doesn't even suffer from anxiety. He has prostate issues, so it takes him a while to pee. If someone else is in the bathroom he will come out and try again later, or find a different bathroom. I feel sorry for him.

[punkster]

One more thing. My husband finds that listening to the sound of running water helps him pee.

[celestialceremony]

yeah i have had this problem when especially anxious (even if i don't realize it). like my bladder will be bulging and i can't go. i like to plug my ears with my fingers and focus. ear buds with music can help, too.

[User1964]

Hi there, so I actually have some advice. All my life I have had those issues, probably brought on by childhood trauma. I'm female btw. This sounds gross, but I purchased a catheter which is small enough in length to carry in my purse. Just knowing that I had it in case I couldn't go really helped me mentally. It's very painful to have a super full bladder. The catheter came in handy mentally for long hours on airplane trips. I hope this helps.

[Charlemagne333]

It is how you tell yourself. If you say it but don't believe it you won't do it. You become what you think about, so intent has to be strong. Try EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)There are free tutorials and training.

[pamb67]

Nicer to have privacy when u pee

[Zhangliqun]

It's the same advice as for dealing with mood disorders. There is no hope of getting better as long as you're thinking about the illness; good coping skills take your mind elsewhere.

Consider: when you are having the most fun, you are not thinking about fun. When your big toe is in good health, you are not thinking about your big toe.

So instead of thinking, I gotta pi$$, I gotta pi$$, which will weld your bladder shut, think instead about ocean waves, a warm bath, a mountain spring. Or maybe not about anything that has to do with water, just anything soothing or pleasant. Like others have said, it will take practice and effort, but eventually it will become second nature.

[Slinkygoldfish in reply to Zhangliqun]

That’s a good way to think about it. I have managed my other anxiety pretty well, but for some reason this phobia is harder to kick. But I guess if I keep thinking about what will happen if I don’t pi$$ then I’ll never fix my problem

[agrotherm]

Older American here: had this happen recently from too much coffee, no public bathrooms, lots of no trespassing signs! 😨

[Davide21]

I'm glad you have brought this to our attention I've been exactly like you

Hate going to the public bathroom

Hate it

I'm not your normal bloke

I can never pee in a crowd of other people

I try to go we're you can

Close the door

But you get some funny looks

So if I've got a appointment

I don't drink anything

Four hours before I go out

That means I might not need to go pee

Makes it worse

I'm very shy and get anxious in this

Situation

[Hidden]

I used to have this problem when I was younger, but at my age I really don’t care anymore. My thought is there is nothing going on in the bathroom that everybody has not already seen many times.

[Strugglin]

Yep. For most of my adult life, I have faced the same challenges. I'm now 50.

[Unfurla]

I struggle with this alot and it limits my life hugely. I recommend the charity UK Paruresis Trust as they run workshops to help combat the issue. I'm still a work in progress but it has been a bit easier since I went to my first workshop. They do virtual ones as well as I know sometimes its not easy to attend things in person.

[Hidden]

Sausage, control your silly..🫣

[Dolores2]

I'm exactly the same, especially when someone comes into the adjacent cubicle AND all the other ones are free...🤨