Embarrassed to Pee

[Artstu]

Im working on my last year of highschool here in Canada and recently i have been concerned with how being pee-shy might affect my future. I havent really even thought of it as being much of a problem because I have been able to work around it most my life. Thinking about turning 18 soon and being able to go to bars made me wonder if I would be able to 'go' in a bar washroom. Also, looking into collage and university, i learned that most on-campus dorms have shared washrooms. So as a result I have been worryed about my ability to preform in public washrooms.

like I mentioned, it hasn't caused me any real problems in my life at this point which reinforced my avoidance. I have never really used school washrooms which is why i think im so uncomfortable with the idea of using one. But my problem is more about the presence of someone in the same washroom as me. If someone is there I have no hope of going, and i feel very uncomfortable and embarresed. The thought of having to get up and head to the public washroom starts a chain of negitive thoughts about, "is anyone gunna be there?" "what should I do if somones there?" "what if someone notices me walk in and back out of the washroom right after?" and a host of other worrys that makes me so nervous im literally shaking by the time I walk in.

Although I get so emotionally hay-wire about the thought of going to a public washroom because somone might be there, I'm usually dont have a problem in other areas of paruesis that some people have mentioned. If it turns out that public washroom I couldn't stop worrying about is empty, I can urinate (almost) no problem. I dont have much trouble going at friends houses or if I'm outside where i can get a little distance and coverage from people. The washroom at my work is private but i can clearly hear people in the next room, and I can go there (even though i am uncomfortable with people being able to hear me). This all leads me to think that I have created some habitual thought patterns when I know I have to use a washroom that could have someone in it.

Im hoping that someone might be able to give me a few tips on how to break the thought pattern and "re-wire" my brain to not have to worry about public washrooms, wheather i preform or not.

[Kiles]

I am afraid that i can't help in rewiring the brain or i would have done it long ago.

I wonder if unknown elements of what is coming up help make it seem like it seem like it is going to be more of a problem then what we have already experienced. From what you have mentioned, it sounds like using a stall for a little privacy, may work for you.

I recently started school again and was also concerned about restroom. I did manage to find one that is usually empty whenever i go into it.

As far as getting beyond the patterns, from what i can tell, it seems that people start will comfortable situations and slowly, step by step work themselves into progressively more uncomfortable situations. Not going on to the next step until they become comfortable with the step that they are currently trying to overcome.

For the thought patterns that we go through before even attempting, people really have no interest in our bathroom habits and are less aware of what we are up to them are fears admit. Most would probably never notice if we walked into a restroom and then back out again. If they did happen to notice, and even bothered to think about it, what they came up with would probably be more a projection of their own thoughts then anything to do with you. "Must have been checking something" or whatever.

I am sorry, i really have no suggestions for you but you aren't alone with these concerns.