Imagine you are walking in the middle of a city, when all of a sudden, it hits you like a bolt of lightning that you have to go to the bathroom really bad.
But, you develop strong anxiety with a pit in your stomach at the thought of using a public restroom.
Restroom phobias are not fun to deal with. It is thought to affect up to 32% of people.
So, what can you do about it? These are some causes and tips to beat it.
Cleanliness
It is no secret that public toilets can be absolutely disgusting places at times. You can see a floor that may not have been washed in what seems like months, with a toilet that may look like it has been used by everybody in the city.
You may be one of those people that imagines everybody who has ever used that toilet if you have issues with cleanliness.
But, to be fair, sometimes public toilet conditions are bad. For guys, they might miss and there may be no screen or splash guard for urinals.
For the ladies, the toilet may not be clean after someone else has an episode, which may cause a fear of pooping.
If you are someone that generally likes things clean, then bathrooms, in general, can cause you some of the most anxiety. It would be natural to assume that one that is used by many more people would be a lot worse.
Social Anxiety
This is another one of the top reasons why restroom phobias occur. Let’s face it, going to be the bathroom leaves most people in a very vulnerable position.
People with this phobia may be self-conscious about the sounds and the smell of the business they do in the bathroom, while also being afraid to make an absolute mess if they have a bad episode.
Also, some people may just not like being in the presence of other people. If others are having a conversation near where you are trying to do your business, it could feel like a true loss of privacy.
Other times, particularly for guys, this may increase when there are no screens between urinals that take away any sort of privacy and you have to awkwardly look straight at a wall.
Social situations are surprisingly a big reason why people may not want to use a public bathroom and develop a shy bladder.
Solutions
What can you do about it? Making the environment cleaner is one thing, especially during the pandemic.
More hand sanitizer has been added to a lot of restrooms. Check out these soap dispensers as examples.
Some restrooms are making separate entrances and exits. This may not only increase cleanliness but also social anxiety because it decreases the chances of people running into each other.
For guys specifically, adding screens between urinals gives you the feeling the privacy and makes going to the bathroom a calmer experience.
Conquer Your Restroom Phobias
Do not let restroom phobias get the best of you. Breathe, stay clean, and try to remember everybody goes to the bathroom.
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