Hi, after suffering for decades I finally went to my GP. Unfortunately he did not seem to really understand. Now I find myself on a CBT course that to be honest (week one) seems to be all about if your feeling depressed etc etc. For me I have a great life, good job, good kids......however (well you can guess the "bad" bit as I am posting on here). I wonder has anyone else been down the online CBT route ? For me I fully intend attending the next workshop in Manchester and am thinking the CBT does not seem for me and I am sure I will get more from the workshop.

Hi Sparks
Well, the online CBT course sounds a bit general. You will certainly get the real deal on our workshop. We use the CBT approach, but informed by 20 years of running workshops and helping hundreds of men, and some women. Secondly the two workshop leaders will have come through the workshop process, and so are doubly qualified to deliver the workshop i.e. personal life experience and personal workshop experience. CBT is a mix of reframing faulty thinking, and delivering graduated exposure; both difficult to deliver if you don't have paruresis yourself. Finally an important part is meeting a small group of others in the same boat; I still remember the huge impact of meeting someone for the first time and talking paruresis for two solid hours in a pub; it blew my mind.
Nuff said; you intend to book onto a workshop: good. Whether to continue with your present CBT course is up to you; so long as it is not costing you money you have nothing to lose but your time.
Cheers
Andrew
Chair of trustees

Hi Sparks - good to have you on board the forum.
There’s been many other stories on here from men who have been to the GP & got a similar response as you. My GP didn’t diagnose me either - I think I saw something on tv about paruresis & knew that’s exactly what I had.
Others on this forum have also been referred for CBT too. I was never sent for that.
I attended a work shop & follow up workshop in Manchester & strongly recommended you go ahead & book yourself on the next one. They’re absolutely great!
My last “misfire” (time I tried to use a urinal & couldn’t urinate) was in 2023 & that was the only misfire I had that year. I’ve done particularly well since then & have almost finished my third whole year without a misfire.
The key to my success has been learning from the paperwork we take home from the workshop & practising the methods were taught to overcome paruresis on a very regular basis.
Good luck to you!