Customer Reviews

Shy Bladder Syndrome: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Overcoming Paruresis

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Raise a gallon jug of Spring Water and toast the best (and only?) book on Shy Bladder Syndrome to ever hit the shelves!!!

If you ever thought that you were alone and that no one else in the world suffered from a shy bladder - or paruresis, this book is for you. After living with this problem since junior high, I was amazed at how much information this book book contained on how to finally get your life back to normal.

The nine chapters contained in this book are well written in easy to understand language that is a must read for anyone that suffers from paruresis. Starting with a brief overview of how the mind and bladder work (or don't work), this book leads you down a carefully laid path that shows how to regain control of your life.

Filled with true stories and first hand accounts from real life paruretic's, this book puts a very human face on something that is usually shrouded in secrecy and shame. If nothing else, simply reading this book will make anyone living with paruresis feel human again -- and not so alone. Thousands of people will read these stories only to be amazed at how similar their situation is to those in the book.

The best part, however, is that this book offers a successful plan to overcome paruresis that has been tested and successfully used in workshops around the world. After using the methods in this book, I've seen a dramatic improvement in my ability to use public restrooms with success.

If you're reading this review, you probably need this book or know someone that could benefit greatly from its priceless advice. Get this book...get it now...get on with life!

Looks like a plan !!!

For those who are pee shy, it has always been this invisible syndrome, never discussed, never addressed, never revealed. Always hidden. Finally, these writers have brought it into the light of day. And what a relief it is. As someone who has experienced Shy Bladder Syndrome for as long as I can remember, I consider this book to be a revelation. On several levels. First, it is great to know that I'm not the only one and great to read about other people's experiences and triumphs. Second, the writers fully explain the physiological process of urinating, which has given me a greater understanding of what's happening when I can't pee. And most importantly, this book offers specific exercises to overcome this condition. I am in the process of doing these exercises, and I am finding them thoroughly empowering.

I unconditionally recommend this book.

In 1996, an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work co-founded the International Paruresis Association (IPA). That professor, Steve Soifer, is also a co-author of this book. It is the first monograph on Paruresis or Shy Bladder Syndrome: the inability to urinate in a public restroom or in the presence of others....Classified as a social phobia in DSM-IV-TR (300.23), it is associated with impairment in multiple functional domains: employment, education, and social relationships. This debilitating condition thrives in a climate of shame and secrecy (on the part of paruretics) and ignorance (by health and mental health care providers). This deceptively slim book may help you identify paruresis in yourself, a loved one, or a client/patient. One section helps the reader rule out other conditions (pp.16-18). The brain-body connection is clearly described in Chapter Two, and includes both a diagram of the human urinary system and a chart of the human nervous system. The authors present a ten-step approach for Graduated Exposure Therapy, the treatment of choice at present. Appendices include a literature review, a synopsis of "the evolution of the bathroom and its impact on paruresis", and resources. A seven page bibliography is included. There is no index, and it is hoped that future editions will remedy this. This thoughtful, sensitive book breaks the silence which has hitherto dominated the subject. For that, and for the prospect of relief it holds for over 17 million sufferers, we may all be grateful.

This book is the most comprehensive guide to the suffering paruretic. It defines and provides a self test to determaine your level of severity. It relates numerous stories and experiences that you can identify with. The President of The International Paruresis Association, Steven Soifer speaks of his own suffering and eventual triumph. Some of the topics include How Paruretics Cope-Isolation and Avoidance and The Causes of Blashful Bladder Syndrome: Unravelling the Mystery. It also outlines the working of the urinary system. It offers methods of self treatment through Graduated Exposure Therapy and addresses the topic of The Medical Community and Paruresis. Have you ever thought about telling others?. Why not start your own group?. This book will show you how step-by-step. Need to tell a friend or loved one. This book can help. Each page is clearly written is easy to understand terms and is finished with a summarization of each chapter. All you ever wanted and needed to know is found in this book written by four of the leading Avoidant Paruresis research specialists. This book is the first step to treating and conquiring your Paruresis. Don't suffer alone anymore. Begin the road to recovery.

As social phobia is finally being recognized by the public and professionals alike as a serious condition, affecting nearly 20 million in the US alone, so is avoidant paruresis - one painful, disabling, and embarrassing manifestation of it. As one who suffered from both for years, I can tell you this book provides you with everything you need to know to overcome this form of performance anxiety.

Starting with what "bashful bladder syndrome" is, it takes the reader through its causes, different treatment approaches, what to expect from the medical community, and how to gain support from family, intimates, and friends. It has one chapter on the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act to mandatory drug testing and another on the evolution of the bathroom and its effect on avoidant paruresis which makes for fascinating reading.

This breakthrough book gives hope to people worldwide who live restricted lives because of this debilitating human affliction. It is essential reading for medical and mental health professionals, sufferers, and their family and friends!

After struggling for over 3 years with this problem, accomodating it, and letting it get worse over time, I finally stumbled across this book. Everyone seemed to rave about it, sharing their experiences and recoveries. I purchased this book about 3 weeks ago, and have been continuously trying the tips and solutions to curing the shy bladder problem. Basically, the general idea this book suggests is that you continously attempt to urinate in the urinal and that eventually over time your subconcious mind will allow your brain to trigger the emptying of your bladder. It ALSO states that on average, it should take about 8-12 sessions to fully cure your shybladder, and that several sessions per week should be performed. In theory, my bladdershyness should be cured in about 2 weeks right? Well, 3 weeks thus far and I can contest to very little (almost NO) results.. Even sometimes I can not urinate when I am completely alone in the bathroom because I have the fear of someone walking in, a fear that I NEVER had before I started attempting to cure this problem. Therefore, at this point in time, I can say that this book has not helped me and has even been slighty detramental to my bladder shyness.

I'm assuming my situation is rare, and that a number of factors could be the reason for my negative results..I am going to start practicing less often and see if that proves to be more helpful. However I'm at a very low point in my shybladder chronology and I would reccomend this book ONLY if you beleive you are part of the majority in which their shybladder is cured with the treatment provided in this book. However the only reason you will find out is if you order this book, I guess it's worth the $10 bucks? For me it wasn't....

Steven Soifer's book was easily the best present I have ever received from my immediate family. A series of acutely embarrassing events in my childhood left me unable to comfortably urinate in public lavatories, friend's homes, or even if my girlfriend was in my apartment. In the worst patch I was unable to urinate unless the TV was on and I could smell freshly cooked ham or bacon.

When I could "let go" it was usually only a painful, burning dribble which could last for hours. After unsuccessful treatment with psychiatric drugs I led a reclusive life of almost permanent urinary distress. Mr Soifer's well-written (though disappointly illustrated) book allowed me to work through my "bashful bladder" and helped turn my family's scorn and embarrassment into pity. Highly recommended.

the book was very well written and complete. it had enough down to earth heartfelt, emotionally connecting reading to make up for some of the more technical medical and legal writing. very well done. it gave me more courage and self-confidence. the book really helped me to realize how shy bladder affects many more people than i had imagined. i'm not the only one really fighting with it. i even mentioned some of what was written about the history of restrooms to my kids (9 & 10 years old). they didn't say much, but later when it was time to tuck them into bed, they said that they wanted to read part of the book, too. funny (but, good huh?) they enjoyed reading parts and asked me questions. if you get the book, it might be a good way to tell someone else about your shy bladder condition. it is a professional looking book which gives it a bit of authority to what it says, and it does say a lot in it's 147 pages. it's a very complete book that touches on every imaginable topic concerning shy bladder (some that i didn't even think about before and some i didn't even care about--it's that complete). after reading it, you will probably feel much better about yourself and have a wealth of knowledge to work with in fighting your own shy bladder condition.

Finally, we have a real, tangible, concrete, ISBN catalogued record of our condition. I thank God this book exists. I sincerely hope this is but the first step in a global recognition of this condition, and that government, health organizations, and the medical industry will consider the vast number of people suffering from this and work on relief and possibly some cure.

I encourage everyone who buys this book or has this condition to post their review here. The more of us speak up, the better off we'll all be.

Wow! This is a groundbreaking book as it is the first comprehensive examination of Paruresis. Kudos to the authors for having the courage to bring Shy Bladder Syndrome out of the water closet! Dr. Soifer and his colleagues have taken a subject that has been taboo and largely ignored by medical professionals and have given it the serious treatment that it deserves.

This book excels in presenting Paruresis from both a clinical and very personal perspective. The book provides a keen insight into the embarrassment and suffering that this disorder can cause as well as the ultimate liberation that comes from following the treatment options discussed. For those who suffer from shy bladder syndrome, this book is an absolute must read. You life will be changed forever by implementing a few of the simple but effective options suggested in the book.

The book is well researched (with 7 pages of references) and clearly reflects the authors' interest and passion in explaining Paruresis and offering practical options which will help everyone who suffers from Shy Bladder Syndrome. You may be embarrassed about Paruresis but don't be embarrassed to buy this book!