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Paruresis is characterized by fear of scrutiny by others leading to fear of embarrassment or humiliation. This causes anxiety, tension, ‘freezing up” and the inability to perform.
There is no one single cause of Paruresis. Negative, anxiety provoking, or traumatic experiences involving urinating sometimes, but not always, precede the development of paruresis.
As with other types of social anxiety, risk factors include childhood adversity and maltreatment as a child. Underlying traits include fear of judgement or negative evaluation, self-criticism, self worth issues.
Anxiety Treatment Services provides integrative and comprehensive therapy for Paruresis including individual therapy, group support and behavioral fieldwork. Modalities include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy including guided imagery practice and real life desensitization/graduated exposure therapy, Psychotherapy, EMDR, and Meditation/Mindfulness.