Embarrassing problem re claustrophobia/underwear

[gratefulbutsad]

Ok. Firstly. I am a woman. Please do not report me for being a man....

I have an embarrassing predicament. I accidentally stopped wearing knickers over a period of time and now I fear I can never go back. I'm looking for advice, has anyone had similar? Maybe with bras, socks, an item of clothing? How do I go back.. here is the full lowdown. (Pun unintended).

I used to wear knickers around the clock, bed, everyday, gym - that was normal to me and I'm sure all of you.

I was speaking to my partner one day about 6 years ago, telling him that after the gym my underwear is soaked through in sweat. He genuinely asked why I bother wearing them, gym leggings are designed to absorb sweat and keep me cool.

I'd never thought of that before..... and one day tried going commando.

Separately in bed, he sleeps naked and I used to wear knickers under pyjamas or on their own and he used to joke 'what are all these clothes' and over time I just joined him sleeping totally starkers.

I didn't know it at the time but these very small tweaks led me down a path...

Pandemic hit, I lived in gym leggings. I didn't wear knickers. I also put on quite a lot of weight, so when the time came to put them on again, I realised I was SO much more comfy without them!!!

Went on holiday end of summer 2020 and was able to wear bikini bottoms, then by summer 2021, I was so claustrophobic in them that I wouldn't wear them to breakfast and would last on the subbed as long as possible then cave in and put them on just to lay there and swim but take them off to walk back to the room.

I've tried buying so many different types but have also since had a c-section and they itch my keloid scar, they feel tight on my legs, and I don't like the feeling anymore.

I'm so self conscious as this is not normal!!! It's been nearly 5 years since the decline in wearing them started.

I just cannot stand the thought of wearing them!! Help.

AIBU just to be a commando woman the rest of my life? Should I even care? If I feel free and happier then maybe I am being unreasonable on myself. I'm deeply ashamed and embarrassed and would do anything to go back to my non stop knickers days.

Worth mentioning I also used to wear jeans everyday and I can't stand them now, as I got older I just didn't like the feel of them. Even pre pandemic but especially post pandemic when I put on weight anyway. Is getting older becoming for comfortable and sure of who you are???

Assuming this is genuine, you may just be wearing the wrong style for your new body. Underwear should not be tight on your legs, or uncomfortable, you can also get very light weight breathable underwear.

If you don't want to wear knickers, who in the world cares? As long as you're not exposing the parts of yourself the law requires you to cover in public, this is a non issue.

Gym leggings are tight and clingy and made with man made fabrics, so it’s weird you can wear something so uncomfortable that you ‘live in them’. Knickers in comparison are light and barely noticeable, especially some of the new seamless, laser cut types.

Do you find you have to wash trousers after every wear? That would annoy me. With knickers on I can get a few wears out of trousers.

I haven’t worn underwear since my hysterectomy, 14 years ago. It’s not a big deal 🤷‍♀️

This makes me so happy!! I guess I feel like I'm strange. And I am grateful to have found someone else who doesn't wear them. What's your reason? I'm curious, thanks everyone else for your responses.

I don't wash trousers after every wear but tbh I'm more of a long skirt, long dress person anyway. Don't wear jeans.

How do you deal with anything that might leak out?

I hope you don't live in a windy climate op....

This.

Buy pants that fit....

I didn't wear underwear for maybe 10 years? Exception of sexy underwear etc. but generally go comando. It is far superior. I now sometimes wear those seamless ones but not very often.

Nobody will care. I'm yet to have anybody notice at all.

Are you possibly wearing a style or size of knickers/jeans that is unsuitable since you say you gained weight?

I haven't worn knickers since my teens, unless I'm wearing a skirt or dress. I haven't given it a second thought. I don't like the feeling of them and there's no law to say I have to wear them 🤷🏻‍♀️

What on earth would be "leaking out"? In the absence of any medical issues, people don't just randomly "leak" and in such instances, trousers would be changed in the same way you'd need to be changing your underwear?

Buy M&S slip culottes for under your skirts.

Underwear is there for hygiene purposes and not wearing any at all is pretty grim when there are plenty of styles to chose. I also think it's pretty grim to sleep naked unless you are washing your bedsheets every night, same with trousers by all means go commando but wash the trousers.

Vaginal discharge is normal. It is naturally a "moist" area.

And you can be quiet as well! Hygiene purposes?? Whose hygiene? Sleeping naked is grim?! Since when?

Exactly! Discharge is healthy.

I never wear knickers OP. You are not alone! Am also more of a long dress / skirt person and its never been an issue ever.

@FuckThePoPo why?

I've already said above I'm not. Why is it because I don't wear underwear and feel self conscious about it must I be a man? Do you not think I genuinely am one of by the looks of it, quite a few women who are in the same boat.

It's not a surprise then when I hear someone else who is the same and I want to know what reasons they had. I just never thought it would get to this and I feel like a weirdo but clearly I'm not. I'm not a man. Full stop.

Is that because you feel more comfortable? Do you feel claustrophobic too. I'm so relieved, I thought no one else was the same and was looking for advice on where to go from here.

Looks like no one else is bothered about their decision.

I've said I'm not a man and as you can see plenty other posters also forgo knickers.

Why do you assume in a world of smart phones and accessible x-rated videos, that a man would come here for their pleasure by writing a thread like this, so detailed and definitely not provocative.... I don't think we should flatter ourselves..

@Eyesopenwideawake @Anotherparkingthread @BodyKeepingScore @WaldoPablo

How are you when it comes to holidays and wearing all in one full bathing suits and bikini bottoms? Do you wear them morning to late afternoon no problem or feel restricted?

When I lost most of my post lockdown and baby weight last summer I was able to wear them more but still liked the option to swap into beach shorts.

You must be very 'dry'. Are you menopausal age?

I would not got pantsless in public in leggings, they can easily be see through without the wearer noticing. I have seen so much of people in the past on escalators or bending over suddenly in front of me that I can read the writing on the thong tag poking out their ass clack. I wonder why they even bothered wearing anything but they always seem completely oblivious to the fact they might as well be wearing a pane of glass.