Public bathroom anxiety???

[Hope_for_the_best]

I am having a stressful time with my studies and as a result, I become overly sensitive to the surroundings. I raised some concerns about my stress symptoms earlier, (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/weird-symptoms-during-times-of-intense-stress-) but this particular “anxiety” stands on its own so I would like to make a new thread.

I know no one likes public bathrooms. I don’t like too, but I was fine with using one if needed until I got a diarrhoea at a shopping mall last year. I should have avoided greasy food when my digestion was not great under stress, but somehow I ate a creamy pasta for lunch and went shopping in a mall when I needed to go very badly. I went, the bathroom was quite clean actually, but the ventilation was not that good. My diarrhoea smelt awful and made me gag. I rushed out of the bathroom as soon as I finished and I felt better after breathing in some fresh air. But since that incident, I started to be uncomfortable with public bathrooms. I still go and eat out as usual, but I get obsessed with smells in public bathrooms and I avoid using one if possible. My gut is usually very obedient so I only need to pee most of the times. Still, it becomes a lot of struggles in mind before I ever walk in and use a public bathroom. I talked to my psychologist about that. She says it is normal to hate public bathrooms and if I do not stop going out because of them, it is okay. She asks me to be patient and allows myself some time to get over it.

Over the year, I improved a lot on my own. At least, I think less before using a public bathroom these days. However, I still have the struggling thoughts of going or not at times. I wish to get back to before asap, i.e. use a public bathroom without a second thought.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Hope.for.the.best,

Thanks for your post.

I'm really glad that you're able to identify what it feels like and what it's reminding you off - sorry that you had that experience! Anything with diarrhoea and/or vomiting is awful (especially both at the same time!).

I think a big part of anxiety is acceptance and understanding; so knowing that you have these fears; where they come from and why they're here. Anxiety is said to be another 'message' - so maybe for you it might be afraid of getting that sensation you described, or maybe the worst case scenario might be gagging? If you can, find the worst case scenario of going into a public toilet; whatever it is, I'm sure that you can face it.

If the worst case scenario is feeling that sensation - then you can remind yourself that you can deal with it, over and over. Repetition is key. Sometimes people may walk in and out of public toilets without needing to go - just so they're getting used to that uncomfortableness that going to the toilet brings.

[Hope_for_the_best]

I haven't got a chance to come back to all posts and thanks for your reply. Turned out it is another weird manifestation of my anxiety. When I am under prolonged stress, I start to scare a seemingly innocent daily life object/situation. Since I sorted out my stress with my supervisors a while ago, I am fine again with public restrooms. Of course, I still dislike public restrooms but I feel more comfortable using them. It was horrible to struggle whether or not to use the bathroom when all I needed was a minute or two in there. I simply wasted too much time in thinking go or not go. At least I don't need to "think" anymore when I need to go now.

[Lindalou]

Hello, if it's any consolation or help, my fear of public bathrooms is not due to any natural human smells or noises- its their overdosing of revolting smelling chemicals which immediately give me a severe headache and other side effects.

I'd prefer the smell of poo over too much bleach/disinfectant anytime. I'm the same with people wearing too much revolting perfume. I was in a work environment once where many of the women doused themselves and I often went to the freezer and put my head in it for a reprieve.

We are all human- we fart, poo and wee and we weren't born to smell of stinking chemicals that make others unwell.

Hope this reassures you.

[Hope_for_the_best]

Thank you Lindalou for your reassurance. I too dislike very strong smells of perfume. I have hay fever and revolting perfume makes me sneeze like crazy. One good thing is that my nose will be blocked afterwards and cannot smell a thing.