My girlfriend found my paruresis book on my shelf and asked about it a few months ago. I was hoping she would find it and ask. Over the next few weeks I would explain it and parcopresis and tell her stories about it. It's SO good to be able to tell someone about it.

I went and visited her college one night when I hadn't gone in a while. My stomach hurt really bad when I woke up. And I simply said, "I think it's because I haven't pooped in a while." So she left to go to class so I could be by myself, and I went a little bit. It's liberating not to keep secrets from her.

Shy pooper: definitely consider telling your girlfriend. It may seem weird, but that weirdness is in part the phobias fault, ya know? You have to understand that you, your girlfriend, and everyone else poops. And while it may SEEM weird to discuss it, that's only society's mindset telling you it's weird.