As you read more about this condition, you will discover that treatment is based on standard techniques of cognitive behaviour therapy; to improve self-esteem and to realign your view of reality.

We address these at intensive residential weekend workshops. Note that no-one is cured in a weekend, but the majority make a significant start to gaining control over the condition, enabling them to see a way forward. The workshops are based on those run by Dr Soifer (the President of the International Paruresis Association, based in the USA), and are described in his book, The Secret Social Phobia: Shy Bladder Syndrome. It is important to note that the UKPT does not provide professional treatment; instead it uses a self-help ethos, where the leaders are not medically or psychologically qualified, but are recovering from the condition themselves. They are imparting what they have learnt in a layman's capacity. Feedback so far is that this approach is helpful to participants. However it is not the aim of the UKPT to be a replacement for professional therapy; instead it is providing support, especially where professional resources are not available.

We feel strongly that if public toilets were designed to give more privacy, we would find it less difficult to cope. Hence the charity aims to bring our views of privacy to the notice of architects and sanitary ware manufacturers. Privacy covers things like providing substantial dividers between urinals so as to create a sense of personal space, and to provide line of sight privacy; the desire to significantly reduce or eliminate the gaps between floor and walls of cubicles; and the need for substantial locks on the same; the need to design the layout of men's WC to reduce the feeling of being overlooked by mirrors etc; providing enough women's cubicles to eliminate queuing, and the time pressure that goes with it. If you want more info on this contact us by email or post.

The only book written specifically about this condition is The Secret Social Phobia: Shy Bladder Syndrome by Steven Soifer et al. However there is little research done so far on the causes, nor on the efficacy of treatments. The charity will actively support any focused research in this area.

Time and again individuals contacting us say they thought they were the only person in the world labouring under the burden of this condition. We would like it to be better known and so have been interviewed both on the radio and TV; in the latter case on the Richard & Judy show in June 2002. We have a growing number of people who are willing to be public about this condition and so will continue to seek media exposure, so as to make contact with more sufferers.

Anecdotal evidence shows that it is a lottery as to whether one's GP, urologist or psychologist have heard of paruresis, and knows how to treat it. We wish to help the medical profession gain a fuller understanding of this condition and so welcome contact from them.