How I learned of my paruretic disability

How far would you like to go back on how I see my disability progressing or acknowledging how it's been something relevant to my day to day life. It starts back as early as elementary school with the teacher trying to get everyone to go into the restroom and handle their business all at once in a community urinal. You remember those? Troughs. Nightmares for anyone with paruresis. It was over 20 years ago so it's hard to remember everything that was running through my mind. I can still see it as a traumatic experience and as not adhering to my lifestyle or the way I was taught to deal with bodily functions.

I can remember one of the first times. I think my teacher's name was something Ms. Julie. She was sweet and the class was orderly. Every thing was regular as we went about our daily routines for my first time. She asked us to step into the bathroom, using the water fountain nearby on our way in and out as we liked. As we approached the urinal as instructed in groups it brought up a lot of insecurities in my thought patterns. Quite unsure what my peers were thinking, it became difficult to focus on the task at hand or perhaps to be unfocused from said insecurities. Boy after boy left that restroom. Group after group. I never left until I was ready to admit to Ms. Julie that I was unable to relieve myself. When i walked out and told her "I can't pee, I'm too nervous." she asked me to sit aside and wait for the class. So I sat down along side the wall. Once the class was done she asked a boy to stay with me kind of like a buddy system and the class walked back to the room. This was not the only time this happened.

I know Ms. Julie was only doing what she was told to do and dealing with something like paruresis was probably was not in her job description. It was only recently I learned this is actually classified as a disability and that many other people suffer from it as well. Many of whom have similar stories.