To ask for your experiences with Bath/strange atmospheres

[AliceInBlunderland13]

Semi-regular poster but I’ve name changed for this as the details could be quite outing. Also not really an AIBU but posting for traffic and all that…
There have been two periods in my life when I have lived and/or worked in the city of Bath, Somerset and I’ve experienced problems with my mental health on both occasions. The first was right after I finished by undergraduate degree in London and I moved to Bath to do a Masters at the university. I started in the October and by Christmas I was experiencing terrible panic attacks and depression. I did manage to complete the course but as soon as I finished I ended the tenancy on my flat early and moved back home. I then worked in my home town for a few years, during which time I had no problems with my mental health. Then I decided to do a PhD and took a position again at the uni in Bath. This time I didn’t move there but instead moved to a nearby town and commuted in. Yet again within a couple of months of being there I began experiencing daily panic attacks, terrible anxiety and feelings of dissociation, and depression. I tried to stick it out (had counselling, on meds etc) but I still felt utterly miserable so I recently quit the course and found a new job in another town.
Even after having counselling, I’ve never truly got to the bottom of what triggers these episodes. Logically, it could be stress related as both a Masters and a PhD are obviously a lot of work but then I dealt with the stresses of my undergraduate course just fine, and the job I had between my Masters and PhD was high-stress and I loved it – in fact I used to think I worked best with a bit of pressure.
Then the other day, I was reading an old thread on here (bored while I wait to start my new job ) about places people found creepy. Several people mentioned that they didn’t like Bath or that it had an odd atmosphere – I think one poster described it as ‘melancholy’. Now normally I’m very rational and logical (except when the anxiety takes over ) and wouldn’t give it a second thought, but I couldn’t help wondering if anyone has any experience of feeling anxious/down in a particular place, or if anyone else has felt this ‘atmosphere’ in Bath? I know some will say it’s a load of pish but I guess I’m just interested in other people’s experiences really…

I think it's energy related. Lots of conducting rocks (and water) in the places mentioned most on here. Perhaps it's the 'buzz' of the area you're feeling.

Saw a paranormal documentary ages ago which investigated why people were experiencing weird vibes and shadows in a certain room at a hospital. Turns out it was the ceiling fan and it's vibrations causing the uneasy feelings.

Our brains are strange things.

I have managed to live in Bath very happily for 12 years made lots of lovely friends and not had a breakdown - just to present the other (sane) side of this. Ok it’s not the most multicultural city in England but such a privilege to live in such a beautiful place with lots going on culturally. I have lived in rough horrible places and Bath is way nicer!

Wow what an interesting thread and so is the radon map.

I’ve only visited Bath once, I was so exited and looking forward to it as so many people I know have been and really like it. Dh and I went for a night and we booked a hotel for the night outside of Bath. We drove to Bath, stayed an hour and a half, then left.
I’m still not too sure why, and I still feel annoyed with myself that we didn’t stay longer, but at the time we just wanted to leave. It was very strange.

Also interesting to read about Betws y coed. I’ve been twice and really love it there. Although the first time we went we stayed in a house in a tiny village a few miles up the road. I’m not sure what it was about it but I hated it, the house and the village. I honestly wanted to cry and just wanted to go home whenever we were there. I didn’t say anything as everyone else was having a nice holiday and I’d lost my mum a few weeks before so thought maybe I was still a bit out of sorts.
When we went back we stayed in Betws y coed and i was fine there. Strange!

I hate Blackpool with a passion. Every single time I've been, it has rained solidly (even in August- forcasted hot and dry and rained.) I feel like the place leave a grubby coating on me and I can't wait to get away and wash it off.

My Mum always used to say that she'd get a headache as soon as se saw Blackpool tower and she'd have it all day until she left.

"I have managed to live in Bath very happily for 12 years made lots of lovely friends and not had a breakdown - just to present the other (sane) side of this. Ok it’s not the most multicultural city in England but such a privilege to live in such a beautiful place with lots going on culturally. I have lived in rough horrible places and Bath is way nicer!

Whilst I respect your right to an opinion, this is what I'm talking about. Dont get upset and think Im attacking you but this is textbook Bath resident. "Its beautiful" "Everyone else is crazy for not liking it" Why are you the sane one? Maybe you're crazy for liking it? Or maybe not. But its the residents resolute belief that crosses into arrogance that their perspective is THE perspective.

Lots going on culturally? Again, based on what culture? English culture? Nothing wrong with that but its English only. Nothing wrong with that but the sheer amount of locals that pretend this isn't the case really sums up how parochial it is.
Its great that you like it and it suits you but the failure to acknowledge the potential for alternative views is what lets the city down in general which is why nothing new appears. Go to London/manchester etc and tell people you dont like it there. They won't mind or take offence but Bath residents seem to think Bath is part of their personal identity somehow so vehemently defend it. I personally think its great when opposing views challenge as it gives an opportunity to develop a new way of thinking. But people in Bath would sooner shut down anything not keeping with their very narrow view and tell people as you did to "encourage all the loonies to leave"

Bath is lovely. Rugby at the Rec is great fun.
Sadly, my mother in law does create a rather odd atmosphere and has been known to fly her broomstick over the city.

It also isn't all Guardian readers as someone pointed out. There are PLENTY of staunch telegraph reading tories who have no qualms with being very hyacinth bouquet, very very quick to talk about what their sons and daughters do and how much they make before quizzing you to find out what you have. "Did you know ds is captain of the rugby team" Very in the 18th century. Ask them who the prime minister is and they'll tell you William pitt the elder.

OP, your post reminded me of something my sister told me the other day. She was discussing where they might move to with my dad and mentioned Bath and he shouted at her, 'No! You'll go mad there. It'll suck all your energy.' We were both laughing at this random, weird, negative reaction to it. But maybe there's something in it.

My auntie lived there when I was young and I loved visiting her there. I've only ever been on day trips since then, and it has no negative effect on me at all. I quite like it. Very touristy, though.

I was born and grew up in Bath, and I’ve always been happy there. I love it! My Mum (and a few friends) say that they always feel uncomfortable in Glastonbury.

just had a look at the first and last few pages of this, how interesting!

very different place to Bath but I found Scunthorpe felt really ominous and menacing. I went to college there and found myself very depressed after a year. now, I know it's not the prettiest or most popular place in the world to visit but I felt that way despite being from a quite similar town.

Buxton was attractive but felt completely airless, stale and energy free to me. I put it down to going on a grey, cold day but the radon gas theory is really interesting!

teignmouth felt similar despite being sunny and full.of tourists. there was a staleness as though it had been closed up for years. love Exeter, newquay and the surrounds though.

Manchester, on the other hand, I grew to love but I remember going there for the first time and feeling really intimidated! not sure why but it felt as though everyone was being quite sweary and spoke in an an aggressive manner. the dialect isn't very different from my own so I'm not sure why I got that impression!

Anyone got weird experiences with Bidston/ Bidston hill? Ive not been yet but when i get a car its one of the first places im going to. I hear loads of creepy things about it. Not been to Bath or glasto yet. Have been to salisbury which is a weird place but i got no bad vibes.

Paris gives me bad vibes.

We have spent weekends in both Bath and Buxton and loved them both, especially Bath. While I love the isolation of Buxton, I can see why some people might find it a bit dark, damp and slightly dreary. Betws y coed can feel a bit similar- they’re built of quite dark stone and don’t get a lot of sunlight, plus it rains a lot.

Personally I don’t like small, modern towns.

Brighton is a strange place. So is Plymouth.

Bath has an underlying weirdness I can’t put my finger on.

A friend of mine had a very unsettling experience in Bath ...she was on the top deck of a tour bus and saw a bunch of lads on the Bath Rugby Club grounds practicing in the nude ...

I felt really uneasy for the one day I’ve visited bath. I also had a really strange experience where I was looking at one of the old houses from a distance and felt like I’d lived there before in a past life. Was so strange because I don’t believe in stuff like past lives

I think plymouth is a bit strange because there is hardly any greenery in the main part of the city

Username your post made me laugh! Have you ever lived in an English village?! Now that really is parochial and monocultural...I grew up in one and couldn’t wait to move to a proper grimy city (lived in Cardiff Bristol and London as an adult)

Saying Bath is too English is abit weird. Would you criticise say an Indian city for being too Indian?!

Though tbh after enduring horrendous drug dealing neighbours who made our lives a misery when we lived in London we were craving somewhere “nice” to live when we had a young family - apoeal of edgy and cool city life rather wore off for us after that experience...

And I’m sorry all this “I got a bad feeling” is abit bonkers - nothing to do with Bath it just makes no rational sense - but then I don’t believe in ghosts supernatural etc

Tswift. Nothing wrong with Bath being very English. Did you actually read the post properly? There is a problem with people who live there claiming its very multi cultural when it isnt and saying theres lots different cultural things on offer. Just isnt the case.
Residents in Bath defend it like grown adults arguing about their favourite football team and its just so tribal and silly. Bath is for people who are willing to trade fun and interesting for somewhere pretty and safe but want to claim they're not boring at the same time. Kind of like trading your sports car you bought when you were young in for a family car like a civic. Nothing wrong with that but please stop using every opportunity to tell people how sporty your civic is when it isnt.

Its the pretend attitude thats annoying. Just feels like everyone you talk to is auditioning for a play or some kind of method actor. Coupled with the arrogance and "we know everything attitude" that seems so prevalent. All of that without mentioning the class snobbery that is so apparent. Its just too small, too gossipy and too fake.

@cherrypavlova do we share a mother in law?

London is a grimy city? No, its not a grimy city. Its a diverse city. Belgravia, Harrow, Highgate, Kensington, Knightsbridge etc are not grimy. It has a range. The major difference is if you live in an in area in London which someone like yourself would call "grimy" or that other laughable word "edgy" (which basically means more working class and poverty than middle class) no-one will hold it against you. I've not met one person who would open their mouth and start slating the types of people who live in Hackney for example, as being people to stay away from. Behaving like that would be laughable. But in Bath that is just normal behaviour.

I live quite close to Bath (about 15 miles), whenever I go there I get a headache and feel quite "down". I reckon it's because the centre is so narrow that I feel a bit hemmed in. It doesn't take much for it to get crowded. There just seems to be a slightly un-nerving atmosphere about the place that I can't quite put my finger on.

Unfortunately @MsTSwift you are proving the case every time you post. It sounds like you moved from a parochial village, couldn't cope with "edgy, grimey" London so lived to a parochial town.

And all this rugby on the Rec shite

@usernameusrnme you've really hit the nail on the head totally. I really struggled when I lived there. I have a natural reaction to that whole monied middle class thing. I hated it then and I hate it now. And that is the essence of Bath. It's all about being white middle class.

I hung around with artists and musicians but I never clicked with them. Most of them were from elsewhere but they had ended up in Bath. They were all surface too. I spent the entire time I lived there feeling like an outsider. And I've lived in plenty of cities.

It's not about it being woo either it goes deeper than that. It's about the attitude and fake ness. I'm not surprised I had a breakdown there, it makes sense.

And visiting recently I was shocked at the monoculture. I live in a typical London boroughs. It's not grimy or edgy. It's diverse and has its share of poverty. And milsom street on a Saturday was a sea of white faces.

Anyway @usernameusrnme you're far more articulate than me but yes it's a horrible, small minded, monoculture. And you can feel that when you're there.