i am so happy i found this site. i have discovered only in the last hour that the problems that have plagued me forever, are called paruresis and parcopresis. i was almost too shy to type my problem into google for goodness sake! but im so glad i did. what a relief to know im not alone.

finding so many other ppl with the problem, is so comforting. but im also annoyed that ive been living with these problems all my life thinking i was the only one and feeling like a freak, because it simply isnt talked about enough.

its held me back from so many things it infuriates me; holidays, relationships,university. im a spontaneous person but because of these social phobias i have to plan constantly.

ive finally plucked up the courage to apply to uni, and to live there too, hoping maybe my phobias will be "cured" by then; realistically, i know they wont.

this is the first time im refusing to let my social phobias control my life, and doing something that normally i would have dismissed because of them.

so im really BEGGING for advice here. can any students offer me advice on coping with parcopresis and paruresis while living in halls? im hoping to get an en suite room but even then im worried people will hear me next door.