Typical Characteristics and Behavioural Patterns

The triggers for paruresis will be unique to each person. Although it may seem it has appeared out of nowhere, there is usually an underlying cause. For most, it will be triggered by one or more negative events associated with urination. Common events are being interrupted whilst urinating or being in an unpleasant environment. One event may not trigger then syndrome off – there may be a close succession of events which lead to the syndrome.

When the sufferer starts to show the symptoms, they will start to catastrophise. They will start to become anxious about not being able to urinate the next time they are in a public bathroom. Each time they fail to urinate, the anxiousness will rise meaning urination will become more and more difficult.

Because of this, the only ‘safe’ place will usually become the bathroom at home. Those with the most severe form of paruresis will find even this is not always safe – if someone else is in the house, they may experience problems urinating. Paruretics will try to adapt to their situation by urinating as much as possible at home and trying to avoid urinating in public bathrooms by restricting fluid intake. They may also refuse social invitations. Restricting fluid intake is extremely dangerous and can result in severe health problems. Paruretics will also try to perform checks to try and locate vacant toilets whenever they can. Common ways to try to help themselves urinate are to think of water, to run a tap or to flush the toilet whilst they urinate – both to encourage urination and to mask the sound.