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…

Another one for Teignmouth in Devon, went there as a kid and felt like I'd been there before and constantly felt upset, cried every day we were there and just felt "sad". Never been back.

My Nan hated Brighton, she went in the 60s and had what she describes as a flashback. She could see herself in rags holding onto the black railings outside a house on the seafront and felt an overwhelming sense of hunger as if she was starved. She never went back as she said it gave her the "willies" of course my Grandad thought she was nuts.

Exactly. This is what Tswift and residents in Bath dont want to acknowledge. Tswift why didnt you just move to another part of London if you had a problem with your neighbours. But yet you panicked and ran away, to Bath, where its all nice and safe, which co-incidently is what everyone I've spoken to in Bath says "Its so safe here, I feel so safe. I like Bristol but its too edgy" What they really mean is that it isnt white middle class enough. If you want it to be all white, all middle class, then fine but please stop pretending its diverse.
Yes the monied up thing. The problem with that is the speed in which people want to take themselves up. Why do they do it? The wealthiest people I know are stealthy as it gets when talking about money, but these Bath residents? Just cant help themselves. Why? Its pretty to look at but ugly in conversation. They heavily look down on those with less but act morally superior to those with more.

TSwift Username didn't say it was 'too English' at all.

Also, you are entitled to your opinion but I'm not sure why you are so dismissive of people's experiences because they don't align with your own. in the parts of the thread I have read there is no mention of ghosts (I have probably read about two thirds of it). in fact, posters have been looking at very rational explanations such as topography and radon gas levels, also psychological factors such as the liminality theory.

It seems that a good deal of us experience 'the willies' in some places not others, and it is an interesting thread drawing parallels between these places and emotions and looking for reasons why.

She's dismissive because, like most residents in Bath, she and they are not interested in other peoples opinions or perspectives. They wouldn't be able to acknowledge another opinion. Our country's democracy has been built on discussion with everyone weighing in. But in Bath its just shut down conversation. If anything is controversial, just dont talk about it and pretend it never happened. Maybe its this "sweep everything under the carpet" vibe people can feel. Anything focused so excessively on prettiness on the surface and image is what might be unsettling. Nothing wrong with aesthetics, but there must be substance too.

Geepipe, I grew up not too far from Bidston Hill, don't live there now though. So I knew it reasonably well. It has an interesting history, supposed to be very old. Druid connections? There's a rock carving there of some sun goddess and some spooky stuff on the rocks - I can't really remember it tbh, haven't lived there for decades. Never encountered anything weird there myself that I can recall

I live in Bath too and I love living here. I don't think it's anything to do with it's "whiteness". I love it because:

The city centre is beautiful.

There are great shops.

Lots of history. (I love history)

Great food.

Lots of lovely places within easy reach.

Beautiful countryside.

Lots of art galleries. (love art too)

It's also ridiculously busy at weekends, in the summer and at Christmas and the local government hate car drivers with a passion, so there are downsides.

We walked around the local cemetery recently and there were a huge number of graves with non English surnames, which seems to suggest that other cultures having been making their home in Bath for a long time.

We've moved around a lot and even lived in a small town that was a lot more "white" than Bath is, but I'm happiest here than I've ever been.

Having said that I could very happily live in Bristol too, which is much more multi cultural. We know it well because our daughter lives there and I love it's buzz, but the traffic is worse than Bath and I just couldn't take it.

I have to say that your inverse snobbery is showing username and you sound a bit ridiculous.

My roots are firmly working class, but I'm not going to apologise for being a middle aged, middle class (sort of), art loving history buff who happens to find Bath lovely and not at all weird.

I had this in Bath!!!

I had a full-on panic attack and just felt 'not there' for the whole time I was there. There were quite a few 'alternative' types around, and for some reason, it really freaked me out. Jugglers and people with dreadlocks and violins... the whole experience was other worldly and I felt full of fear and dread.

Just to add, I lived in London and worked in the music industry at the time, so was used to strange people. It was just Bath. No idea why really.

Knitting addict its not whiteness. I dont know how many times it needs to be said. its the PRETEND diversity. Not sure how you make that out as inverted snobbery. I really dont care who has what but when I have conversations thats all im met with.
How could it possibly be inverted snobbery when my own family members are multi millionaires?

The Scilly isles, particularly Agnes are very Wicker Man, but it's that closed, slightly off-beat, watching outsiders thing.
Bath is one of the places I've lived the longest. Aside from personal heartbreak and the tragedies of students drowning in the river too often, it's always been a positive place for me.

No-one has to apologise for being white or middle aged or well off, rich or super rich. Its the "lets talk our selves UP " at every opportunity that I just find so annoying. Then they want to quiz others. Should I join in wax lyrical about my family? Why should I? I dont have to do that to have a normal conversation anywhere else in the UK. If I dont then theres this awkward "well you dont seem useful to me so goodbye" attitude.

I get it username, you don't like Bath and think it's terrible that some people do. I don't really understand that attitude. You live where you like to live and I'll live in Bath, so you don't have to. Isn't it great that there are so many different choices of places to live and that we can CHOOSE for ourselves. I know, what a novel concept.

Knitting addict. The city centre is beautiful you say. Great shops, lots of history. Ok. But why dont people address the business rates putting so many of these great shops out of business? What about the homeless problem? The drug problem? You love history, ok. But would people in Bath be capable of discussing Bath's historical role in the slave trade? Bath abbey has more monuments for slave traders than anywhere in the UK apparently and the architects in Bath were bankrolled with slave money. Now before you get upset and "he's attacking us.. blah blah blah" Please dont. Dont you think this is an interesting fact? William wilberforce lived in Pultney street. Wouldn't it be interesting to learn more about the social and economical conflict that might have occurred as a result. There could be lots if people interested to learn what was going on with prolific slave money makers in Bath being met by Wilberforce. Any mention of that in Bath's historical tours or mention of that being part of Bath's history? All I hear is the Romans built this, the Georgians built that. Jane Austin lived here. Maybe it wouldn't interest you, maybe it would, but it could interest others?

Have you looked at Astrocartography. It is where your natal chart is put onto a map of the world and the influences different places have on you.

I have never felt at home in this country. Things never seem to go right.
My Astrocartography chart says everything North of Leeds will end in disappointment (I was born North of Leeds) and south of Leeds people will stab me in the back.
It couldn’t be more true.

However many years ago Dp and I were travelling in the US

We stopped in a seaside town that was a little bit seedy and were warned not to go near our hotel window after a certain time as we were likely to be shot. Was also warned not to leave the hotel after dark

Dp was terrified but I loved the place. It was like I had come home.

I really wanted to buy a place and move there. We could have afforded a huge house I felt so calm and so right being there.

When I discovered astrocartography I clicked on the town and it is one of the luckiest and nicest places I could live.

Only problem is it is now a hugely popular area and one of the houses we could have afforded is now many millions of dollars.

We live on the outskirts of North London and I avoid Hampstead at all costs.
I find it really creepy and it gives me the heeby jeeebies. I will sit in traffic on the Finchley Road rather than go through Hampstead

No I dont think its terrible that some people like Bath. I'll say it AGAIN, I think its great. Enjoy what you want to enjoy. Views and country hills, no problem. I think its just very pretentious when people claim its multicultural. It just isnt. Its fine that it isnt, it just isnt for me personally, but its the pretending that it is. It is very pretty in some places. It does have some nice places to visit and eat but the pretending that its things it isnt is just very unnecessary. As I said a civic IS a good car. It delivers a reasonable spacious, economical hot hatch, good mpg etc. But why if you have one why pretend that is handles like a BMW or its as cosy as a merc? Then when a real BMW pulls up, you're glancing at it like its the same. This is the pretend nonsense that Bath revels in. If there wasn't any of that then its fine.

Paris yes! My mum and I went for a city break there once and we were both in tears within hours. The day we left was Bastille Day and we really struggled to get to the airport because road blocks kept being put up in our path. The second time I went with my husband, we were on a train which pulled into a quiet part of the station, turned off it’s lights and closed the doors. We had to cross a track to get out. There wasn’t even an announcement! Weird vibes.

I love visiting Bath and know people who love living there. I don’t think they pretend anything about it, they just enjoy it.

@Oliversmumsarmy where abouts in the US was this? I feel the same in Miami, been going there every year since I was a baby and have family there and I always cry when leaving which I never do anywhere else I have such sadness like a homesick feeling when I eventually get home.

@CalliopeCat, a friend of mine used to visit Halifax frequently out of necessity and she found it quite grim and threatening.

"I get it username, you don't like Bath and think it's terrible that some people do. I don't really understand that attitude. You live where you like to live and I'll live in Bath, so you don't have to. Isn't it great that there are so many different choices of places to live and that we can CHOOSE for ourselves. I know, what a novel concept"

It is fast becoming a novel concept as you're failing to realise not everyone can just up and leave to wherever they want. Some people are stuck in their environments due to financial constraints. Perhaps council housing with children. Its not as simple as saying just go and choose. You fail to realise that money is directly proportional to these choices.

Tswift I also have to take issue with your language of brandishing others as "loonies" especially with so much being done to counter the stigma of mental health. If you continue to speak that way its up to you but it is a shame

Pretty buildings, though there are interesting ones further out (like the Museum of Bath at Work) that people often don't see. AWFUL traffic. Ludicrous road system. Posh, overpriced shops (I honestly don't know how some of them have kept going this long). Huge gap between the very, very well-to-do and the homeless population, for instance.

Bristol might have a reputation for being a bit "rougher" but it's a lot more real than Bath to me. I always think it's hilariously funny that Bath has turned Jane Austen into one of its major industries when in real life she loathed the place. I'm sure the irony wouldn't be lost on her!

Also Bath isnt just ethnically monocultural, its architecturally monocultural too. Its all Georgian everything. Just the exact same stone everywhere. Even where there isnt the same stone its just painted to look like it. This lack of architectural diversity also adds a certain feel that people may love or not. Its the difference between an Old English grand hotel like the Clarigdes and the Dorchester which was built in a different time with an effort to appeal to a wider range of people. Or a Bentley and a Lotus. Bentley is great but if the marque started to claim they have a racing heritage it just wouldn't make sense. Lotus can because it's genuine.

"I always think it's hilariously funny that Bath has turned Jane Austen into one of its major industries when in real life she loathed the place. I'm sure the irony wouldn't be lost on her"

Its things like this that Im talking about. She DIDNT like it. If Bath residents want to talk about pretty places why dont they talk about the Cotswolds instead of insisting "theirs is the prettiest of them all"
Bristol is diverse, from Clifton to St Pauls, from Cabot to Cribbs causeway. Bath is not.

I’d love to live in Bath, I’m a teensy bit jealous of my friends who do. And if I was lucky enough to live there i don’t think I’d suddenly start pretending it’s diverse!

This thread has mentioned so many places I've been to a lot or lived near. Interesting. Pps who mentioned Brighton; I went to college there and have a soft spot for the place but I agree there is a violent undertone. I went to college there and have been nearly attacked and in some sketchy situations a few times. I think theres quite a lot of drugs there. But I still like the place. Ditto Hastings which I actually think is a really interesting place. And I live quite near Bath, cycle there sometimes for lunch etc. I wouldn't personally want to live there but I have never found it creepy.

I agree that the Isle of Wight is a slightly odd place but that's mainly cos it seems a bit stuck in a timewarp. Beautiful though.