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 agree Bath is weird. It gives me the heebie jeebies. I also strongly dislike most of the Lake District for no tangible reason.

Bath is beautiful but I do think it has odd vibes.
Stroud is another place which I think has strang unsettling energy and is depressing.
I agree about St Just. I have only been once and hated it.
Gloucester is a truly depressing place with awful energy.
Glastonbury is also weird. Too many unbalanced people around .

Don’t like Tewkesbury either. It felt unwelcoming and slightly sinister to me.

My daughter was at Uni in Bath and wasn’t happy. I did a course there for a year and became very anxious and quite depressed.

@Serin I feel exactly the same about St Just. DH was born and bred there and I dread going there to visit as it creeps me out so much!

@FeatheredThing no I've not posted anywhere else, so must be someone else with a similar experience!
Glad I started this thread, it's really interesting to hear people's differing experiences of places. I think @CopperMugs is right in that we all pick up on different things and react differently.

@RupertBear15 I feel strangely comforted to know Jane Austen didn't like it either!

Wow, that Radon map. I feel really lucky to have lived my whole life in London and East Anglia now.

It does explain why i feel free in the East and sort of dragged down / oppressed in the west - even thoigh i should be enjoying myself.

I’ve always enjoyed Bath when I’ve been there but I find Brighton has a really oppressive and dark atmosphere. I’ve also heard the same said of Leatherhead in Surrey (from Christians in particular) but haven’t spent enough time there to comment.
I kind of get why places which have a lot of historic buildings can feel ‘heavy’.

My friend was at Uni in Bath and it definitely has ‘an air”. Yes it’s beautiful but I wouldn’t want to life there.
IOW is weird but my family come from there so I have always felt part of the strange vibe. It’s one of those places that have a bit of my families past in every road and building. My son hates it interestingly.
I agree about the horrid vibe in Buckinghamshire - Aylesbury, Wycombe area.
I love West Sussex though. Feels open and relaxed.

Also my godawful ex MIL has positioned herself right near Glastonbury, Cheddar Gorge, Bath etc and she has some of the most disturbing vibes i've ever come across. She is a big fan of The Who and when Pete Townsend was arrested she went around saying "paedophilia is just normal human experimentation".

It's not Radon, after all, it's her.

I've been to Bath lots of times and my son lives there during term time for college - I've never felt the funny vibes, It's a pretty city and I've always enjoyed visiting. My ds loves it there.
I feel a little bit like this about parts of Lincolnshire though - it's all so flat and bleak it makes me feel a bit funny, I couldn't live there. For some reason I find it a bit menacing, not sure why.

That Radon map is very interesting.

I lived in Exeter for a few years. I always had a 'funny turn' around Exeter Central station and the shopping centre near there. I would feel very lightheaded and a bit sick in my stomach. I never got this anywhere else in the city.

Don't get the hate for the Isle of Wight though! I love the place, but that's probably because it's where I spent many happy childhood holidays. I go back as much as I can, especially to the Bembridge area.

I always feel hideously depressed any time I have to go to Inverness.

It's too big to have any of the endearing features of small towns, and too small to have most of the comforts and interesting attractions of big cities. Half the city has practically no bus service, impossible to get around by public transport on Sundays etc, yet it just keeps expanding.

It's a truly miserable place that that totally sucks the life out of me.

I felt trapped in bath. I feel trapped in all the west.

I love Orkney though. High radon but is not west!

Interesting about the radon!

I agree with somebody else about Plymouth. I do find Devon and Cornwall rather strange.

Used to live near ish Bath as a child. I remember going on a Sunday after the 1990s recession and it was deserted and really creepy! Or maybe it was before Sunday trading? As an adult I used to live a 10 minute train ride from Bath. Never thought it was that creepy, just really busy!

I don’t like Brighton. It has a strange air. Or Paris.

I start feeling free once you get to the top of Dartmoor heading west. Yes, it's harsh, yes, it's damp, but the bleakness and desolation and sense of millennia relaxes me and I can breathe properly. And when the sun is out and the wildflowers are blooming, it's absolutely beautiful.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but the West Country.

which is a bit shit as we live in London

I’ve lived on various military bases in the south-west and found them very strange places. There is a Facebook group called “haunted married quarters” which is fascinating but you can only join if you are in the military or have a partner in the military.

I only feel “at home” in a few places. Wiltshire, parts of London but not south London. West Sussex and parts of Hampshire.

I used to live in the old town part of Hastings and I moved away only because of commuting issues so I didn't find it oppressive, but DH never felt like he fitted in there without ever understanding why. I like visiting areas near Glastonbury but don't like the atmosphere in the town at all. I've felt quite upset there sometimes and also had a friend who had a huge meltdown there so now I stay away. I have only visited Bath once - I remember not enjoying it but that's all.

What about Venice? I've been there a couple of times and there's a deadness about it.

With regard to Exeter, there was apparently a big paedophile ring in that area in the 70s/80s. Not sure if that might leave a legacy in the atmosphere for some people.

On the contrary @whiteroseredrose to me, Venice felt far too alive - with the past. Especially at night. Love it but i don't think the hairs on the back of my neck went down the whole time i was there. The pope died during my stay, which didn't help.

Hastings and Exeter seem to be very common themes 😳

I love Aylesbury and High Wycombe!

Gosh some quite strong feelings about bath! I live here with my 4yo and 1yo. We have a normal life, work, school run, toddler groups, friends etc. I can't say that I've ever heard anyone here saying that they feel the city is draining them, feels melancholy, etc. It's just a place to live. Perhaps all the people that feel bad here have left tho so I've not met them?! Same as anywhere, in that sense.

I don't think all the initiatives here fail, as per a pp. What are you thinking of specifically?! It seems a pretty forward thinking and ok community to me.