Fear of urine or urinating (urophobia)

Urophobia is a fear of urine or of urinating. It might involve worry about needing the toilet when none is close, anxiety about using public toilets, or distress at the thought of an accident. Any pain or changes when passing urine should be checked with a GP.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek ouron, meaning urine. It is a rare term on phobia lists, and the fears it covers overlap with better-known problems such as paruresis, often called shy bladder, where people find it hard to urinate when others are nearby. It is different from a medical bladder condition, though the two can exist together.

What it feels like

• Planning trips around where the toilets are
• Difficulty using public toilets or urinals when others are close
• Cutting back on drinks before going out to avoid needing the toilet

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is fear of using public toilets a phobia?

For some people it is, and difficulty urinating around others is commonly known as shy bladder. It is more common than many realise. Because some bladder problems have physical causes, it is wise to see a GP if you notice pain, urgency or other changes.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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