I don't know if other people find this a problem but I find it impossible to ask to be excused when I need the toilet. I'm 24 and I work for a financial services company as an administrator.

It's not a problem in the usual office environment where I can just go when I want to but I get really embarrassed if I have to ask. Two weeks ago I was on a course. Each day we started at 8.30 and we usually ran through to about 10.30 when we had a coffee break. But on the second to last day for some reason by about 9.15 I realised that I was beginning to need a wee. By 10.00 I was absolutely desperate for the loo but still couldn't pluck up the courage to say anything. I was really panicky because it really felt like I was on the verge of wetting my knickers. I've been desperate for the loo before but I've never actually wet myself since childhood.

By 10.15 things were just getting worse by the minute. I was bursting but just couldn't bring myself to ask until suddenly I felt a little surge and sensed that I was beginning to leak a little bit. Without thinking I just stood up and blurted out "sorry - I have to go to the toilet - is that OK?" And with that I just ran, only narrowly missing a major catastrophe!

Does anyone else find it difficult to ask to be excused or am I the only one?