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Hi. My boyfriend has very strange habits. He can`t use public restrooms. He can pee only in his own toilet. First I thought he was like joking, but now it has become really serious. We never go out. We always hang out in his house. All because he can`t use public restrooms. What `s wrong with him?

Hi. My brother has the same problem. His therapist said he has a shy bladder syndrome. It is a social phobia. People with shy bladder syndrome are very aware how irrational this is but they can`t help it. Anyway, he explained persons with SBS fear others may be watching or listening. They perceive the “danger” and their bodies react in some ways. My brother is on therapy right now. Yesterday he told me to wait (at a comfortable distance) while he was in the toilet, urinating. Today, I also had to wait for him, but I was standing a bit closer. I hope the therapy will work.
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Sounds like a bit of ocd as well. Have him try cbt because it works well on all types of anxiety disorders.
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I am a girl and I have shy bladder too. When I know that other people can hear me pee, I fidget until I find soundless way of doing this. I try to pee on the inside wall of a toilet bowl, which may be tricky, or make a toilet paper slide to make the stream quiet, or just do it in small squirts and hope for the best. Or I turn on water in a sink to camouflage the noise, which does not seem to help much, so I then turn on shower also. Then I can go.
I actually make facial expressions of horror, and I get stressed out if I can't get it soundless.
In public restrooms I used to actually wait on a toilet until everyone leaves, and be always happy if I got into an empty bathroom.
There were times when I was shy to be heard in the bathroom by my husband. I got over it.
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