A successful doctor faces the lingering trauma of sexual abuse—and the former Scoutmaster who molested him—in this “refreshingly honest” memoir (Publishers Weekly). Growing up on Staten Island in the 1970s, Frank Spinelli’s working-class Italian parents viewed cops and priests as second only to the Pope. His mother, concerned that her son was being bullied at school for being “different,” signed Frank up for Boy Scouts when he turned eleven. For the next two years, Frank’s life had two realities—one lived in full view of his family, and the other a secret he shared with his Scoutmaster that he couldn’t confess to anybody. Eventually Frank went to college, established a thriving medical practice, and found a home in Manhattan. But the emotional and physical effects of his past continued to shadow every aspect of his life. Then a shocking discovery gave Frank the opportunity to overturn thirty years of confusion and self-blame—for himself, and for other boys like him. “This is one of those horrific, true stories that Dr. Spinelli so courageously reveals . . . His story is one of too many, but maybe, this one will help open our eyes a little more and shine a light on a taboo subject that many chose not to see.” —Whoopi Goldberg

Most people take being able to urinate in public rest rooms for granted, but for countless millions of people having to urinate when they are out in public poses a terrific problem. The anxiety is called avoidant paruresis and like all social phobias it is amenable to change. This is a book about effecting positive change.

"Bathrooms make me nervous is the first book to explore the shy bladder condition (paruresis) from a woman's point of view. Written by Carol Olmert, the IPA's Women's Coordinator and recovered paruretic, it offers clear and effective information on understanding, coping with, and recovering from the phobia"--

"Shy Bladder Syndrome" takes a cognitive therapy approach, shown to help in most cases, to an embarrassing and often life-disrupting disorder. Simple strategies and exercises help sufferers overcome their fear of using public restrooms. Illustrations & charts.

Sign-carrying mice give encouraging instructions for using the toilet.

Illustrated Book on How Men Pee

Paruresis is a condition that prevents people from urinating in public, sometimes even in their own homes if others are in adjacent rooms. The good news is that this anxiety disorder is highly treatable. The Secret Social Phobia: Shy Bladder Syndrome (Paruresis) offers strategies and easy-to-follow exercises to help you desensitize yourself to fear-producing situations and feel comfortable in public restrooms. Graduated exposure will help get you to the point where you can tolerate the anxiety of relieving yourself in a public washroom or other shared space.