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…

Agree about Bodmin!

canyouseethesea Not Miami but in US terms not hugely far away. Fort Lauderdale.
Though I have visited other areas of the US and found I could live there much happier than the UK. Apart from New York. I don’t get the same feeling.

confusedandtired99

I use Astro.com under the travel horoscopes. The scalable world map is the most readable. Just click on where you are and get the full info at the side with the crossings and lines affecting that area

I'm feeling a bit protective of brighton here! I will just say, obviously as a visitor or tourist you'll see the city centre most, and that's where most of the problems mentioned upthread (homelessness, stag dos etc) are concentrated.

To live in, Brighton is lovely. Really lovely, unlike any other parts of the U.K. I've lived in. The sea is glorious, and right on your doorstep, the family friendly events are many, the parks and playgrounds all well looked after, the people are generally friendly and talkative, with a high proportion of alternative/creative types, which suits me perfectly. the food is incredible for a city of its size - if you like to eat out, you're in luck! The support for parents and children is great - many baby classes, council run (props to Tarner children's centre in town) and private, the royal Sussex is a great hospital with a paediatric a and e and their nhs home birth provison is top in the country. Ah I love it here.

I visited Bath many years ago and don't remember feeling anything in particular. It sounds like some people find the energy there somewhat vacuous and insincere? Maybe it's bland and some people find that oppressive?

I find Oxford, Canterbury and the Isles White uncomfortable. No feeling of dread or anything but Oxford feels disjointed and lack character, i just don't like being there at all, it feels a bit harsh. Canterbury feels gloomy and a bit menacing.

I don't believe in ghosts or anything but I had a really odd experience on the IoW about 20 years ago. Went with my then boyfriend and his lovely mum who was so much nicer than him. Stayed at a hotel on the 4th or 5th floor in a really old building.

When I woke up early in the morning maybe around 6.30am, i heard music so went to the window and looked out. We had a room with sea view but what completely weirded me out and i am not able to forget is that when i looked down to what was the back garden of the hotel, I saw a crowd of people who were socialising in 19th century clothes. Women and men were talking, there was piano music but when i tried to make sense of what i was looking at as their old-fashioned clothes were so weird.... I kid you not, all i could see was fog rising, it became very foggy very quickly and for about 10 minutes I couldn't see a thing down there after which there was sunshine and not a soul to be seen.

I looked like a ghost scene in a silly movie. I promise no drink or drugs were involved in this experience. I remember thinking that the ISle of White also had a gloomy and desolate feel.

We lived in Bath for a year or so whilst growing up. DM and I absolutely loved it - but DF had similar issues to OP. He put it down to the damp. Bath sits in a sort valley and during winter it's damp while during the summer it doesn't get much ventilation so the air is thick and heavy (best description I can think of). Maybe some people are more sensitive to atmospheric factors like these? I know some people get headaches due to air pressure, so could be similar. Add that to probably feeling a bit homesick, stress of uni life, possible changes in diet? and the grey British winter = recipe for depression if you ask me.

Lots of places Bath included are very creepy atm because empty!

Think I must be very thick skinned as I don’t get these feelings. Stuff like traffic rain and mean locals puts me off a place. A really horrible lady told us off for having a picnic in Vouvray in France whenever we see that wine Dh and I eye roll! That said Dd2 aged 8 saw a ghost in Dublin.

I had a really really bad night out in Bath that involved lots of drama, looking after a drunk friend and falling out with everyone!

Exeter gave me the creeps. I felt so nervous and on edge the whole time we were there, and it was ten times worse around the cathedral area. The only place I felt remotely comfortable was at the harbour. It's bizarre, as on paper Exeter should be a perfect place for me, but it felt like the place was evil.
I'll never forget the sense of relief I felt when our train home pulled out of the station.

ElegantAndTired that sounds like you experienced a time slip.

I visited Bath for the first time with a guy I was dating years ago. We drove from London and until we reach Bath, had been getting on like a house on fire. As soon we reached our (very nice) hotel, things started to feel strained and 'not right'. I couldn't wait to get home. I finished things soon after.

I have to add that Brighton is a thoroughly tired, depressing place, so many homeless heroine addicts, try hards, old ravers who refuse to grow up. The place just has a seedy, dark vibe and is a magnet for desperadoes. The 'beach' is shite too.

@Oliversmumsarmy oh I love Fort Lauderdale! We stayed there and never knew it was dangerous! The beach and restaurants sea facing were beautiful.

Glastonbury
Weird, creepy place. I couldn’t wait to leave and I usually love little towns with cafes and crafty shops. DM lives very close, I have plenty of opportunity to return, but really would rather not. I’ve only been back once, to the b&q, once since that first visit to the town. Never been to the festival, no desire.

"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"

Definitely agree. Definitely what I should have done.

I think the sheer volume of boarded up/derelict and abandoned shops definitely gives a vibe thats not great.

King cole. "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?"

Interesting post. Could be right. Almost as though its a caricature of its previous self. Which would lend credence to "lets build a thermae spa, but shut down Dysons's project because we must uphold our spa heritage rather than actually develop something that could be useful to the new generation of kids and cultivating new talent.

canyouseethesea

This was in the early 80s when it was more gunfight at the ok Corral than a nice seaside resort that it is today.

We were in a hotel and watching on the live news a shoot out happening that we could see from our bedroom window. Yet I felt like this was the place i should live as this was home (even with the bullets flying)

I have never felt like that ever in the UK and because of Dps job we have lived in a lot of towns and cities across the UK so it isn’t based on only living on one place.

@oliversmumsarmy if you watch the film ‘Spring Breakers’ it gives you the general impression of the sort of ‘underbelly’ of Florida seaside resorts. It’s a bit of a bizarre film though

The difference in atmosphere between West and East Sussex is staggering, well it is to me anyway, East Sussex feels very oppressive (especially St Leonard's Warrior Square) when I'm there I can't wait to get back across the border to West Sussex where I can finally breathe again. I can't explain why it makes me feel like that, it's very odd.

Chillicheese123 if gunfights across the street didn’t put me off I don’t think a load of Spring Breakers would

I was born in Bath and don't live too far away from it now. I've never lived there but visit it regularly. It can be alright, the park by the crescent is nice in the summer. I have had quite a few 'weird' experiences in Bath though. I do prefer Bristol, lived there for 10 years. I feel it's got more of a 'sense of humour' than Bath, even though it's not as pretty.

I don't mind Glastonbury although it has got quite an intense feeling. Must be the ley lines. Aveburys a bit like that too, but I like it. A lot of places in the West Country feel a bit strange, magical and a bit 'trippy'. Not to everyone's taste. Two places I wouldn't be in a hurry to visit again would be Stroud and Andover.

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/oct/20/ken-loach-says-his-beloved-bath-being-ruined-by-tourism

Have a look at some of the comments

That's interesting, the Ken Loach article. I can kind of see what he means. They have cleaned up the buildings and stopped traffic going in the centre and many of us thought the new shopping centre was nice and in keeping after the 1970's monstrosity that was there before, does anyone remember that? But I suppose maybe it did have more character. I do agree that maybe smaller, independent shops have been pushed out and the centre is full of generic chain stores like any other city centre.

Upthread some pp were talking about stretches of road that are spooky. On one of the roads in/out of bath, it goes through some woodland where there's a folly on top of the hill. There's some strange stories about it and why it was built. It's called 'sally in the woods'. People say the birds don't sing in the woods and there's ghost stories about people braking down on the road. Strange as the folly over looks Bath 🤔.

There is too much focus on tourism and not enough on more economic range. Independents need to cater to a wider demographic and not just the radio 4 crowd. Big businesses are fine and bring the place up to date while providing an alternative to the "lets preserve the look static"

Once again as for the people....

www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/what-absolute-load-tosh-bath-889304

Maybe this also contribute to the OP's feelings and vibe they picked up.