Death, Sex & Money

My Shy Bladder

Jun 11, 2024

In this podcast, Christopher Zara opens up about his struggles with shy bladder syndrome, linking it to class anxiety. The episode explores how this condition has disrupted his life and his journey towards improvement. The discussion sheds light on the challenges of overcoming paruresis and the connection between anxiety and personal experiences.

44:01

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Quick takeaways

Challenges of breaking into writing without a college degree in the media industry.

Struggle with social anxiety-induced shy bladder syndrome affecting daily life.

Personal coping strategies involving negotiation tactics to manage social anxiety effectively.

Deep dives

Christopher Zara's Memoir 'Uneducated'

The memoir 'Uneducated' by Christopher Zara delves into his life where he didn't finish high school, struggle to break into writing as a non-college graduate, and feelings of exclusion from colleagues in the New York media world, especially after the 2016 election. Zara's candid account explores the emotional hurdles and barriers faced by individuals pursuing unconventional paths.

Intro

2min

Struggles of a Writer and Common Bodily Reactions to Anxiety

5min

Shared Experience of Shy Bladder Syndrome

5min

Challenges with Shy Bladder Syndrome and Sibling Bonds

12min

Experiences of Paid Caregiving and a Podcast Recommendation

7min

Navigating Work Challenges and Personal Struggles

14min

Overcoming Anxiety and Managing Peruresis

3min

Christopher Zara didn’t finish high school, and can sometimes feel like an outsider working in a field where it’s more common to have a college degree. Sometimes he’s able to push through his social anxiety, to put on a tough face. But other times his body won’t give him a chance to feel at ease – it seizes up, and in Christopher’s case that means not being able to pee even when he really, really has to.

“Imagine you’re unable to perform a basic function like move your hand or your leg,” Christopher said, “You're standing, in my case, in front of a urinal or wherever the bathroom is, and it just doesn't happen.”

In this episode, Christopher talks to producer Zoe Azulay about “paruresis,” more colloquially known as shy bladder syndrome, how it’s been disruptive to his life, how he thinks it's connected to class anxiety, and how it’s gotten better.

Christopher Zara’s memoir is called Uneducated: A Memoir of Flunking Out, Falling Apart, and Finding My Worth

Podcast production by Zoe Azulay

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Death, Sex & Money

My Shy Bladder

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Christopher Zara's Memoir 'Uneducated'

Social Anxiety and Bodily Reactions

Navigating Childhood Medical Issues and School Challenges

Negotiating and Coping with Periuresis

Evolving Personal Growth and Overcoming Anxiety

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts