Traveler said:
Interesting question. I'm a lifelong paruresis sufferer. I 100% can't pee in public. I just lock up whenever I hear the slightest sound when I'm trying to pee anywhere but home, or out in the woods/country somewhere. I don't have any trauma that I can remember that would cause it but it's always been a lifelong problem especially on road trips etc. I've done a full military career also and got randomly selected for drug testing throughout my career, where they place an observer literally right next to you. Talk about stressful for someone with paruresis. I would drink so much water/coffee that I literally couldn't hold it anymore. Later in life I wonder if I did any damage doing that. I think in the normal world it is considered a medical condition under the Americans With Disabilities act but I'm not 100% sure.
Same thing in a few things you mentioned. I also was randomly drug tested in the occupation I had. They tried turning on water, not looking, etc.
I asked for a quick manual catheter, actually, since I know how to do that. No go.
I pushed so hard something else happened. I apologised and said, "Sorry! I can't even pee in front of my cat!"
I felt awful. The watcher left.
Public situations:
When I'm in a public restroom and someone is in there? I leave, holding it.
It seems when I freshly enter a restroom, everyone piles in! Damn!!
When I'm attempting to use the restroom, and someone walks in!? I lock-up! So, I pretend I'm done, and leave. Then I wait "Casually" for everyone to vacate the damn place. I sometimes discretely try again, or calculate how much longer I can hold it till I get home. I hate it!
It is probably not good for the body. True.
The last time, it was really urgent, and I was lucky enough nobody encroached on me.