Self-help Articles

by Richard B. Patterson, Ph.D.

When you go to use a urinal, try some deep breathing while you're standing there to see if you can't relax a bit. You might also close your eyes and picture the urine flowing out of you.

If, however, the problem persists, it sounds like something that would respond quite well to one of a number of different behavioral approaches to the treatment of anxieties and phobias.

Approaches such as systematic desensitization have a good track record with similar problems. A consultation with a professional counselor familiar with such techniques would be of benefit. IIf that doesn't work, a visit to a urologists might also be able to help if you can find one in your medical community. I wouldn't recommend necessarily starting with medication, however.

Many times, medical professionals suggest medications before they consider behavioral treatments. Most medications have negative side effects that have to be weighed carefully. While many of us expect our physicians to tell us how the medication they prescribe mgith harm us in the long run, they are notoriously silent on many such side effects. They are not well known for telling patients all the possible side effects you might experience. If prescribed anything, look up the medication's dosing, side effects and contra-indications online, then weigh your choices.

A detailed discussion with your pharmacist about side effects of many medications might also be helpful.

If the situation which made you anxious when you were a teenager involved trauma in any way, you might also want to explore that with a counselor. Resolution of underlying anxieties related to having a shy bladder, pee shyness and the original the public urination trauma may be a necessary step toward reducing your peeing anxiety.

About the Author:

Richard B. Patterson, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in El Paso, TX. He is the author of three books on psychology and spirituality.