by Matt Krouwel | Mar 13, 2026 | anxiety, phobia, public toilet anxiety, shy bladder syndrome
Public toilet anxiety is a common experience in which people feel uncomfortable about using public toilets. One study of university students (Knowles 2023) found some interesting facts about public toilet anxiety: 14% of participants showed public toilets avoiding... by Matt Krouwel | Mar 7, 2026 | anxiety, functional disorder, hypnotherapy, pee shy, shy bladder syndrome, Systematic desensitization
As a therapist with many years of experience working with functional and anxiety disorders I have used hypnotherapy for shy bladder syndrome and pee shy clients many times. Often shy bladder presents as a secondary symptom to another problem such as social anxiety, or... by Matt Krouwel | Mar 1, 2026 | anxiety, functional disorder, paruresis, pee shy, shy bladder syndrome
The term ‘pee shy’ or having a ‘shy bladder’ means a person who finds it difficult or to urinate when another person is around. Shy bladder syndrome is: A specific form of public toilet anxiety. More common in men than women. Frequently accompanied by another anxiety... 
by Matt Krouwel | Feb 6, 2026 | choking anxiety, eating disorder
Not every therapist will approach using hypnotherapy for choking anxiety in the same way. However, we hypnotherapists share some common tools. Typically we will tailor their approach too fit the patient, considering things like: How important is an initial trauma?... 
by Matt Krouwel | Jan 5, 2026 | anxiety, erectile dysfunction, Systematic desensitization, vaginismus
Systematic desensitisation (SD) is a psychotherapeutic technique based on behavioural principles. SD involves the patient being deeply relaxed and then exposed to a negative trigger whilst in that relaxed state. Through a process known as reciprocal inhibition the old...