Public Restroom Phobia?? O.o

[TheHumanSpirit]

I'm always apprehensive about using public restrooms. It's not because they're dirty or unsanitary...I just can't get myself to urinate when I know there are others in the room. It just feels weird to me for everyone to be able to listen to the sound of my piss hitting the water in a toilet. Sometimes it works, though...when I'm listening to music and can't hear anything else, or pretend no one's there.

I guess maybe it's because I always feel like people are watching me, even when they aren't? If I see someone watching me outside in public, I smile instinctively. That sort of thing. Maybe? Or maybe it's something else? Anybody else have this problem?

I also don't use the stand-up stalls because I would be too embarrassed if someone walked in and I stopped pissing midstream.

[jimmyboy92]

Yes mate, very common problem apparently!!

I've had it for as long as I can remember and it really irritates me as I could probably pee myself before being able to use public loo easily!! I also get jealous of m mates who can go anywhere, I mean at the side of a road where hundreds of people can see them and they can still go!! :rolleyes:

I also get hard if I'm standing there holding 'myself' trying to pee for too long, very embarrasing if I was at a urinal! But now my mind always makes me worry that I'll get hard while trying to pee....so of course it happens nearly everytime now. :(

I did get a good tip from another forum though. Don't think about what you're doing, but instead close your eyes and count to about 20, youshould be flowing by then. It doesn't work eerytime but its certainly helped me at college. :)

[TheHumanSpirit]

I'm glad I'm not the only one, then! :) Thanks for the tip, jimmy!

[jimmyboy92]

No worries dude, if you find any other tips I'd be interested to hear them! :)

[User Deleted]

Yeah, like he said it's fairly common. I've actually seen a cartoon poking fun at a situation alike it. (Gets locked inside restroom with other people and starts bloating. Not very realistic I know) Personally I'd recommend going in a stall (if it bugs you) lift the seat with toilet paper rather than your hand.

[TheHumanSpirit]

haha thanks Vulpes. Yeah, I usually go in the stall.. but still, if someone comes in then I can't go (unless I've already started). Maybe it's because half the stall doors in my school are either gone or unable to be locked, or because the bathrooms are small.

[jimmyboy92]

I'm the same, nothing to do with broken doors lol.....even in a totally closed/locked cubical ('stall' for the americans lol) I can't go if someone else is there.

I can't even go in my own house if I can hear someone else.....I either have to put the heater fan on to make some noise or turn the tv up just before going to the loo.

[TheHumanSpirit]

I'm the same, nothing to do with broken doors lol.....even in a totally closed/locked cubical ('stall' for the americans lol) I can't go if someone else is there.

I can't even go in my own house if I can hear someone else.....I either have to put the heater fan on to make some noise or turn the tv up just before going to the loo.

Yeah, same. Though, in my own house I'm a little more comfortable about it. I can go if I hear people talking, just as long as they're not talking right outside the bathroom door. Oddly enough, if it's a big enough public restroom and there's a million people in there occupying stalls, it's not as much of an issue for me to handle my business.

[jimmyboy92]

Yeah, same. Though, in my own house I'm a little more comfortable about it. I can go if I hear people talking, just as long as they're not talking right outside the bathroom door. Oddly enough, if it's a big enough public restroom and there's a million people in there occupying stalls, it's not as much of an issue for me to handle my business.

Ah, I'm obviously more paranoid than you then haha. :rolleyes:

Seriously though, going to the loo is one of my biggest worries about my work experince (starting tomorow) as I usually just hold it in till I get home (yeah I drive ~15 miles home from college everyday for the loo and something to eat and then head back....all within an hour) but thats obviously not gonna work tomorow and if I can't go all day I'm worried Ill explode or something. I'll just have to see how I get on I suppose!! :what:

[TheHumanSpirit]

Ah, I'm obviously more paranoid than you then haha. :rolleyes:

Seriously though, going to the loo is one of my biggest worries about my work experince (starting tomorow) as I usually just hold it in till I get home (yeah I drive ~15 miles home from college everyday for the loo and something to eat and then head back....all within an hour) but thats obviously not gonna work tomorow and if I can't go all day I'm worried Ill explode or something. I'll just have to see how I get on I suppose!! :what:

Yeah, and that can definitely be an issue because if you hold it in for too long, you put yourself at risk for urinary tract infection and such. Sometimes I try drinking way more water and then I feel like I have to go. It's usually hit or miss that way; sometimes I can go because I have to, other times I still hold it in and it's worse.

[jimmyboy92]

Yeah, and that can definitely be an issue because if you hold it in for too long, you put yourself at risk for urinary tract infection and such. Sometimes I try drinking way more water and then I feel like I have to go. It's usually hit or miss that way; sometimes I can go because I have to, other times I still hold it in and it's worse.

Hmm, I do the opposite, I try not to drink much so I wont have to go lol.

Incase you were interested, I didnt manage to go while at W/E today, BUT luckily we got an hours break so I could home for a bit lol. :)

[TheHumanSpirit]

Hmm, I do the opposite, I try not to drink much so I wont have to go lol.

Incase you were interested, I didnt manage to go while at W/E today, BUT luckily we got an hours break so I could home for a bit lol. :)

At times I'll take that approach as well. It just depends on my mood, I guess. And nice! ;)

[Ender]

It's a very common issue. I hate public restrooms. Hell, I even dislike my small restroom because the walls are thin. But, you kinda have to be strong and find a way to make it work. When nature calls....

[Syvelocin]

I refuse to use them. I don't really like the idea that other people have used it. Not even the public restrooms in which other people are using them at the same time, I don't like that either, but it isn't the reasn. I even refuse to use the small unisex one that's at work. I'm happy my bladder is very... ehm. Durable. I'll enjoy it while I'm still young and have the ability to get through eight hours.