Accessible and Inclusive Travel Community and Directory
Shy bladder, or paruresis, is classified as a form of social anxiety disorder. From shutterstock.com
Kenley Kuoch, Swinburne University of Technology and Simon Robert Knowles, Swinburne University of Technology
Most of us don’t give much thought to going to the toilet. We go when we need to go.
But for a small minority of people, the act of urinating or defecating can be a major source of anxiety – especially when public restrooms are the only facilities available.
Paruresis (shy bladder) and parcopresis (shy bowel) are little known mental health conditions, yet they can significantly compromise a person’s quality of life.
We don’t know how many people have shy bowel, but research has estimated around 2.8%-16.4% of the population are affected by shy bladder. The condition is more common in males.
Our research explored the thought processes that underpin these conditions, with a view to understanding how they might best be treated.
What are the symptoms?
Most of us will feel a little “grossed out” from time to time when using public toilets. But what we’re talking about here is different and more serious.
People with shy bladder and shy bowel experience significant anxiety when trying to go to the toilet, especially in [...]