From: jennings@tran.fishkill.ibm.com ()
Subject: Re: PHOBIA w.r.t. Urinating at Public Toilets (!!)
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 22:12:57 GMT
Reply-To: jennings@tran.fishkill.ibm.com ()
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Keywords: Phobia, girl, trouble for years, social life, urinate

In article <wsbusr3.724613666@rwb.urc.tue.nl>, wsbusr3@rwb.urc.tue.nl
(Pieter Filius) writes:
> 
>   Hello regular readers of this group and casual lurkers, 
>  
>   I would like to draw attention to the following deeply sad problem:
>   
>   A 17 years old girl seeks answers to the following problem:
>   She's got trouble urinating on lavatories for years.
>   Why?
>   Obviously the fact that people are waiting for that lavatory
>   or ONLY the thought that they would makes it impossible for her
>   to let the urine go! So she simply doesn't, resulting in a 
>   painful bladder, no matter how badly she needs to piddle.
>   Because of this she started avoiding going out as much as possible, 
>   for it'll just result in bladderpains and a return home, 
>   which is the ONLY place she can empty it.
>   The whole thing has become pretty obsessive: She's planning the moment
>   she has to go, on school, therefore feeling an urge to go build up, 
>   checking every quiet lavatory yet returning only more frustrated
>   and without success, trying another one with things getting worse only
>   etc. etc. - sounds like a vicious circle.
>   
>   Relaxation exercises, reading on the lavatory, trying to think 
>   positively: She tried/tries it, but it won't help.
>   
>   Right now she's getting treatment from a mesmerist, 
>   and gets certain herbs to enforce a 'character-change'.
>   (I have no more details on the treatment/herbs.) 
>   
>   Being imprisoned by her own bladder, 
>   it all tends to depress her quite a lot - understandably.
>   
>   QUESTIONS:
>   
>   * Has anyone else experieced something similar, 
>     or knows anyone who does? (The girl suspects to be unique wrt this
>     'absurd problem', as she calls it.)

This problem is not at all uncommon or absurd. Back when I was in
officer candidate school, we would have random urine drug testing (the
whizz quiz). The bathrooms would be locked at 2000 hrs and the test
would be at 0600 the next morning (to ensure plenty of 'test'
materials). For the test to be valid, the officer administrating the
test MUST watch the urine leave the body and enter the bottle. Well, as
you could expect, many could not *go* while someone was watching, even
though their bladders were ready to burst. But, rules are rules, and
eventually those with 'stage fright' were able to relieve themselves.

>   * What data is available on this type of phobia or related ones?

Don't know about this, although I do remember one Psych class that
mentioned studies about people having trouble going in crowded bathrooms.

>   * And especially:
>     WHAT treatment would be most effective to solve this problem?

I would recommend talking with a psychologist.

And remember, this too shall pass :-)   (couldn't resist)


>   
>   Responses to ANY of these questions please to:
>   at073@cleveland.freenet.edu
>   or just to this group.
>   
>   All responses will be forwarded to the girl's home address - 
>   don't know her in person, but sure hopes Usenet could prove it's
>   power once again ...
>  
>   Thanks in advance!
>   
>   With kind regards, 
>   R. Blokland. (The Netherlands)
> 

bill the cat....