Poll Does Your Anxiety Result In You Avoiding Public Restrooms?

[Unknown Victim]

I don't have that problem due to a gallbladder issue, and I have to use the bathroom now or forced to. But when I was younger I couldn't use the bathroom if someone else is in the bathroom. So at work and school, I would know where all the bathrooms where and if someone was there just go to the next. One time I drove home then use the bathroom at work, that around 13 miles.

 

[Creative]

I thought I was pretty alone with this. Glad (but obviously not glad for your trauma) that it's not just me. I have trouble going into my bathroom at home often. If the shower curtain is closed, it is very scary to pull it back. I was sexually abused in at least 3 different bathrooms (by the same person) but they were not public bathrooms that I recall. I am often triggered by the florescent lights and I get scared if it's old looking or in general if it is not busy with people - I am afraid someone is hiding in a stall. Sometimes I can't go in; sometimes I go in but have to leave; other times I am okay to use it.

 

[Iamsensative]

I have all types of bathroom issues. No one is supposed to hear you. No one is supposed to know. Young child told not to make any noise when peeing, pee on your hand to be silent.fear confusion.. Raped as a child caused major tears, bleeding, pain. Never tell, suffered through the pain and shame for years. Touched on in therapy and freaked me out. Hope I didn't share too much.

 

[PTSDfree]

The last time I used a public bathroom was over a month ago and one of the toilets was broken. The lady in the other toilet took over thirty minutes and still didn't (In retrospect, I don't think she was going to the bathroom - probably texting or ya know what :rolleyes:), so I got impatient and went to the mens' room next door. :wideeyed:

And nobody was in the mens' room! What an adventure! :D

I have all types of bathroom issues. No one is supposed to hear you. No one is supposed to know. Y...

I can relate to that. My mom HATED bathroom noises and would yell at me for taking a piss, especially at nighttime.

 

[Sideways]

Wow! What an awesome poll!

I'm soooo at the other end of the spectrum. I have a spontaneous throwing-up thing that I do when I get anxious. Stressed out? Ooops, gonna barf! I always (always) need to know where the nearest toilet is, wherever I go. My mum advised me a week in advance when she knew the water was going to be turned off for some plumbing work so I didn't get caught out. And there's actually an app that will tell you where the nearest toilets are wherever you are in the world (so cool!).

Funny thing is, I'm happy to throw up into third world slum squats, but actually sitting on someone else's porcelain throne to do my business? I have a list of all the things I worry about, from whether there's an audience within earshot, to whether there's any large spiders lurking in the shadows, to whether my handbag is out of reach of someone's hand under the door (or over the top of the door...tricky).

 

[lalazagna]

Oh my, absolutely hate going in public bathrooms, especially the ones in the US where there are gaps in the doors and it's like people walking past can actually see you in there.
My biggest fear though was the automatic toilets, the completely enclosed ones which have the whole automatic wash cycle when you leave. Since forever my very real nightmare was that if I used one, would get locked inside and have it fill up with water and drown.

Unfortunately the actual first (and only) time I finally managed to step foot in one, something went wrong, it didn't register the coin, the door locked and I got stuck inside, the wash cycle started and got completely soaked
Sometimes nightmares come true... now i stay away from all public bathrooms unless it's absolutely necessary,

 

[Ronin]

I try to avoid public restrooms but it's a security issue for me to other factors, not simple anxiety.

 

[Gs172003]

Oh my, absolutely hate going in public bathrooms, especially the ones in the US where there are gaps i...

We don't have those here. Thank. God.

 

[Gs172003]

I don't know if it's the bathroom itself or certain places period. I will go out of my way to pee outside somewhere before I will go in a gas station, fast food place etc to use the restroom. Not sure why.

 

[BB-8]

I do avoid them whenever possible but not because of PTSD, rather because I'm transgender.

 

[Shoob]

I try to avoid them. I have a hard time using a urinal with other people around. I tend to use a stall most of the time. I had a hard time when they would do drug test in the military. Having some guy stare at you is very awkward.

 

[asadafagahajakal]

It's fine until you have two or more people in there already