Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

Because of an unpleasant experience I had when a teenager, I have great trouble using public urinals. I get anxious and am unable to go. Any suggestions?

Answer

When you go to use a urinal, try some deep breathing while you're standing there to see if you can't relax a bit. You might also close your eyes and picture the urine flowing out of you. If, however, the problem persists, it sounds like something that would respond quite well to one of a number of different behavioral approaches to the treatment of anxieties and phobias. Approaches such as systematic desensitization have a good track record with similar problems. A consultation with a professional counselor familiar with such techniques would be of benefit.

If the situation which made you anxious when you were a teenager involved trauma in any way, you might also want to explore that with a counselor since the resolution of the trauma may be a necessary step toward reducing your anxiety.

08/23/99