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…

Always preferred Bristol to bath.

Visited bath once and didn’t want to return

Not really a fan of Brighton either

I like Glastonbury but there’s definitely something strange about the place

I’d agree with previous poster princes risborough too

Certain parts of oxford feel strange to me but it’s my home city so I generally feel comfortable there

Bristol has terrible karma. Built on slavery 🙄

Saladaysia dont respond anymore to me directly and expect a response You are not capable of intelligent discussion. Protest too much? Think what you like.

Taramasalata. I think you are right. I want an environment that is nice that I can be private in. Bath is too small and gossipy (quite a few residents have told me this, some others might disagree) I definitely get that sense. Other cities allow for anonymity if you choose it and things to do if you want more. Doesn't feel like you can access privacy in Bath. As I said I dont like too much attention, I dont feel it necessary. The other weird thing is people staring? What is that? Just blank faces. Then scuttle off. No hello, just bizarreness. Is that a form of communication here? Genuinely is it? They behave like more like cats.

Not RTFT but thought I'd throw my two pence in here. I used to have to travel through the Pennines a lot for work and I have never felt such a horrible, oppressive, lingering feeling of helplessness as I did having to drive through the Moors in the Peak District. I've no doubt in my mind it was linked to the fact poor Keith Bennett's body was lying out there somewhere - in fact, it was in the news about Ian Brady refusing to reveal where he was buried when I was posted on that assignment. But there is definitely just something so desolate and horrible about them that I always felt like I was speeding to come off the A365! It sounds daft but I used to imagine myself lost on them without a map and no one coming to find me...gives me the shudders thinking about it now.

Come to think of it, I think it was also around the time they found the body on the Moors of the elderly man who'd committed suicide.

I also echo PPs' comments on Brighton. I stayed there for a weekend and on the first evening thought it was fun and boho. By the second day I felt really uncomfortable - the only way I can describe it is that horrible unclean feeling you have after staying up til sunset drinking (not that I ever do that these days!) and just think what on earth have I done.

Gave it another shot about 10 years later and exact same thing happened. First day: lovely, cosmo, great laugh. Second day: horrible, sleazy, wanted to get out ASAP. Saw some guys crushing up pills and snorting them in a pub whilst having Sunday lunch Couldn't wait to get out.

staying up til sunrise* drinking, that should say

@Geepipe the Wirral generally is an odd place, like the land that time forgot lol can you tell I'm a scouser

Agree with everyone saying York too! Visited a year or two ago, again with work and found it very weird and insular. Pretty in an almost unsettling way.

Sorry for the quadruple post I've been reading through the thread backwards

Walsingham in Norfolk. I hated it. I was only there an hour or so but it was like stepping back in time. I had bad dreams for weeks afterwards. (I don't believe in ghosts, the paranormal, never been to a séance, etc) so this feeling of creepiness was very out of character for me. Really spooky place, full of religious relics.

Walsingham in Norfolk is so creepy, when I visited there it felt like I had been there before in another time 😳

The wirral is deffo an odd place

Username you definitely need to move for your own mental health. People’s responses to places are utterly subjective- you sound as if you hate Bath and living here makes you unhappy and enraged. Bristol is only 10 miles away why not move there?

They have an ' Unbearable Lightness of Being' feeling about them. The past civilisations of Spa towns and Medieval towns eclipse the coffee, tourist towns they have become.

The past weighs down on you because when they were created they were monolithic workhouses, innovative and powerful. Unfortunately they have now become inert, surburban backwaters with little flow and energy?

MrsTSwift - I asked the same question and their response was that they can’t because of lockdown I would imagine that level of utter hatred takes more than a few weeks to develop.

Bristol is indeed only a few miles away. (That was largely built on the slave trade too though)

We always breathe a sigh of relief getting back from Bristol to Bath😁 But friends love living there - horses for courses!

I adore Bath. I live on the other side of the country but when my husband was alive Bath was our special place that we’d go to to escape. I can’t go there now as it would make me too weepy. I love Glastonbury too; I’m a total hippy pagan type though so maybe atmospheric places like that appeal to me.

Edinburgh, on the other hand . And Canterbury.

@Weston14

You've described my feelings about Brighton!
Only been there a few times, but the last time was about 20 years after the first.

A feeling of oh this is going to be so cool, fun, different. To oh it's cool etc but somehow that's faded very quickly. To, oh let's try again tomorrow, then nope I need to leave.

I love the history, I love the beach there, the shops. Yet there's a relief in getting on the train. I have no idea why.

I love Brighton. it is a huge 'happy place' for me and I am looking forward to being able to visit again.

However, i recognise the 'up until sunrise drinking' louche and scuzzy feeling to a 'T'. I always felt safe, happy and secure there, even when the commute was killing me, but definitely recognise the undercurrent.

Could be to do with the very visible issues with homelessness and drugs in the city including spice.

Im buying a property overseas so its not as basic as just rocking up

Theres paperwork, details. Its not like just going on holiday. The Brexit situation has complicated things like that. I dont know why thats difficult grasp.

I lived in Bath for a year and it was one of my favourite places to live. I found it fun, beautiful, loads to do, great atmosphere, everything within walking distance, loved it.

Having said that though, I do know what you mean about getting a weird feeling about a place. I have been to places (buildings rather than whole towns) that felt like they had a weird vibe to them. Then again, never underestimate how utterly awful homesickness and loneliness can make you feel.

Bath is mostly a shithole, everything is grimy, cramped, toxic but expensive. Bristol is so much better, why more people don't just stay on the train through bath spa and head on to TM is baffling.

Overseas = best decision all round

Bodmin - what a strange place!

I was in a small Dorset village recently and there was a set of stocks by the church and I had a sudden flash of the past not exactly a woo experience more of a sudden sense of mocking, resentment, fear, people shouting, danger. I was very glad to go back to the car.