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Original poster

Anyone ever felt depressed driving through somewhere?

255 replies

beddingwedding · 07/05/2022 10:18

It was so odd!

I drove through the centre of somewhere yesterday at around 7.30pm.

I got this strange feeling, like a strong depressive state and low mood. It just felt really off! I have never felt like this anywhere in my life. The whole place 'just felt wrong'. And do you know what? I can't tell you why, I've no idea

I use to live in a rough part of east London. It's nothing like that. It just felt eerie

OP posts:
Monpetitjardin · 07/05/2022 23:41

maddiemookins16mum · 07/05/2022 12:35

Greenock. It just looks so grey and depressing (despite the views over the Clyde) - many of the houses are grey and scruffy. I can never wait to leave.

That's a shame. I always wanted to visit Greenock because of seeing Waterloo Road. I thought it looked lovely on the TV show, with all the views over the river.

Myrightbigtoe · 07/05/2022 23:42

"A day out of Hawick is a day wasted". Lies.

louderthan · 07/05/2022 23:43

It's the west country for me. The further west I go the worse it gets. Glastonbury always comes up on these threads as somewhere that has a very very bad feeling about it (ley lines??) and I also found Wookey and Cheddar really unpleasant. And Lyme Regis. Although Bath and Bristol feel like home. Very odd.
I've been to Cornwall once as a student, we were performing in a show at the Minack theatre for a week or so and I honestly could not wait to get away from the place.

Also the lake district, although beautiful, makes me feel such a deep sadness. Used to go regularly on holiday as a teenager and every time I would have at least one evening where I couldn't stop crying. I've not been back since.

I love Hull though! One of my best friends lives there and I visit regularly and always have a lovely time.
York on the other hand...urgh. I have been once and I will never forget walking down the Shambles and seeing an antique shop with Nazi cap badges in the window opposite a toyshop with golliwogs. I was utterly shocked. Almost as bad as going to Romford with then-DP and seeing the BNP campaigning in the market... (I grew up in Brighton so have had a very sheltered life in terms of such things!)

Gagaandgag · 07/05/2022 23:48

PuppyMonkey · 07/05/2022 11:46

I thought this was going to be about Stoke on Trent.Grin

Sorry to anyone who lives there but I totally agree with this!!

Also…The strange bridges! Oh they're awful- who on earth designed them?
I drove through once and I felt absolutely dreadful for the rest of the day

Phoenixrising2020 · 07/05/2022 23:49

Totally agree about Bacup and the surrounding area, Rossendale affects me deeply. There are family ties but it is a strange and sad place.

louderthan · 07/05/2022 23:55

Wintersgirl · 07/05/2022 22:26

The difference in atmosphere between East and West Sussex is staggering, East Sussex feels suffocating and eerily creepy, some of the villages have an odd vibe, so much so that you can tell instantly when you've crossed the border in to West Sussex, the mood lifts instantly and you feel you can breathe again...weird

I feel exactly the same but in reverse! West Sussex feels blank and dead to me (apart from Chichester which I love). There are certain bits of the Weald that give me the feels, but not in a bad way. And Rye feels ghostly, but in a friendly way (probably because one side of my family lived there for generations )

Feckingfeck · 08/05/2022 00:12

Dagenham has been mentioned a few times… never been. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt 😉

Getting the train from Piccadilly to North Manchester feels like going to middle earth 😬🙄

blackberriesaretheonlyfruit · 08/05/2022 00:24

Llandudno for me.

BabyBin · 08/05/2022 00:30

blackberriesaretheonlyfruit · 08/05/2022 00:24

Llandudno for me.

DH grew up on the Mediterranean

I thought he might like Rhyll 😬😬😬

I think the topless guys fighting outside pound land was the highlight.

We walked so far out to reach the water that we turned round and gave up 😂

He chose our next day trip location 🙄

bendmeoverbackwards · 08/05/2022 00:47

Not in the UK but Kamloops in Canada. Couldn’t wait to leave.

boronia · 08/05/2022 01:17

CatrinVennastin · 07/05/2022 23:25

Weirdly I felt like this in Rome. DH had saved up for us to go there as a surprise for my 30th and I didn’t want to admit it but I just felt odd the whole time we were there.

I live in london and I hate The Shard. I feel really depressed when I am near it. My friend lives in a lovely house but as it’s on a hill you can see The shard from her bedroom.

If the eye of sauron appeared on top of it I wouldn’t be surprised.

That's so interesting. Loved Rome but my husband ( who isn't fanciful at all) had a really, really bad feelings walking around the Colisseum. He said he just felt fear and violence inhabited the place. He didn't feel like that anywhere else in Rome.
The Tower of London I find really unsettling.

Original poster
beddingwedding · 08/05/2022 01:29

Should also add that I felt this way in Bali!
🌴 Never again!

OP posts:
ClinkeyMonkey · 08/05/2022 01:51

I get such a feeling of melancholy driving or walking through any town centre after the shops have closed. I hate that echoey stillness and the dark doorways.

willowstar · 08/05/2022 06:33

I had this on the north east coast in of Scotland. I usually love the area generally, but once, about 15 years ago, we were driving around trying to find somewhere to stay. We got to Pennan, where I had been before, and the pub had a room. We went in and I just had to leave, I couldn't stay. We headed out along the coast and as I was looking out to the endless sea, I felt a very strong feeling of desolation and panic and the need to head back to the city. We got in to Aberdeen about 9 and finally found somewhere. It is odd..I love that area normally, but it was a very strong visceral reaction.

Namechange20222 · 08/05/2022 07:53

I also agree with Somerset. Particularly Bridgewater. Just a horrible atmosphere of depression. My grandparents lived there and I picked up on this feeling ever since I was 6 years old, my memories there are all tainted with a weird feeling and I could never wait to leave once we arrived.

Mummadeze · 08/05/2022 08:09

The first time I went to Croydon I found it depressing but now I have to go there every week and quite like it. I imagine there are much bleaker places around the U.K.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 08/05/2022 08:21

Driving to Italy via France, went via the Mont Blanc tunnel, came out the other side and it felt so desolate and oppressive. Maybe because I was expecting some really beautiful but I hated it.

As a teenager I had to go to Blackpool for an event, I’d heard so many things about what an amazing place it was but I just found it depressing and the landlady of where stayed was the least welcoming person ever. Maybe because it was out of season I don’t know, but I’ve no desire to ever go back.

My parents used to leave in a very remote area, surrounded by forestry land, there was one particular bit of forest I couldn’t walk past alone, and even if with a group of people I hated it. It just felt like something was watching you. Even now thinking about it, hundreds of miles away, makes me shudder.

Cake8687 · 08/05/2022 09:17

Depressing as in woo:

New Brighton in the Wirral

Depressing as in sad and soulless:

Middlesborough and Slough

minuette1 · 08/05/2022 18:08

I once had to spend a few hours in Hatfield - what a grim and menacing feeling place, especially the town centre.

Nitgel · 08/05/2022 19:41

Hatfield does need a bit of love ❤

Violinist64 · 08/05/2022 21:47

Namechange20222 · 08/05/2022 07:53

I also agree with Somerset. Particularly Bridgewater. Just a horrible atmosphere of depression. My grandparents lived there and I picked up on this feeling ever since I was 6 years old, my memories there are all tainted with a weird feeling and I could never wait to leave once we arrived.

We had an overnight stay in Bridgewater last year on our way home from our holiday. The name sounds so attractive but the reality was that it was rough, run down and a dump. It was a truly depressing place and we couldn’t wait to leave.

pilates · 08/05/2022 21:51

I came on to say Dagenham and can see I’m not the only one

AlexTurnersmicrophone · 09/05/2022 05:21

Girvan in Scotland. Went with friends on holiday, stopped for bite to eat, couldn't wait to leave.

Abracadabra12345 · 09/05/2022 12:09

thecatneuterer · 07/05/2022 10:30

Dagenham makes me feel like that. But really only because it's horrible and is just a depressing place. It also has a claustrophobic feel to me. I go to lots of other horrible places in London and surroundings (it's part of my work), but it's only Dagenham which I can't wait to get out of.

Weird you should say that because I feel exactly the same whenever I go there

Youwiththeglasses · 09/05/2022 14:32

Romford gave me the creeps, don't know why. I used to love the market when I was younger though. It also had its own special smell..