I don’t want to do an escape room.

[Owt]

Partner wants me to go to an escape room with him. I don’t want to go as I am claustrophobic. This does not mean I am awkward, I went to Paris with my daughter and I enjoyed that and no I do not speak French but I did German at school and can still remember some of that. Anxiety can sometimes appear as awkward behaviour. I do suffer with some anxiety but that is possibly connected to claustrophobia.

Why do you feel you have to do an escape room if you don’t want to? Sorry to use a cliche but if your partner asked you to jump off a cliff would you? No.

Just say ‘no sorry, it’s not my thing’ I’m sure he’s got a mate that could go with him instead.

If you don't want to do it, don't do it - simple as that.

It depends what triggers your claustrophobia as to whether it would be unpleasant. I've done two escape rooms and both had rooms that were normal room-sized and well lit. Once the first room is unlocked, you can go in and out into the second room, and so on. The people running it are always there on intercom. They weren't horror-themed with blood and guts or anything - one was 20s American gangster themed and the other was Egyptian themed.

However, if it's being locked in that is the trigger point for you, I'd suggest an escape room isn't for you, because that's the whole point of it, if you see what I mean.

There are outside escape room puzzle trails, mystery trails, that might be a better option for you both.

Escape rooms won’t lock you in you can leave at any time, you might ask to have the door ajar. Of the two I’ve done, they do tend to be dark and gloomy inside, something to assess if you can cope with.

Well I love escape rooms, and I’ve been to France. I only know a couple of French words though, like croissant, and baguette. Perhaps if you bought a French dictionary it would help?

Maybe you have been unlucky with the ones you have been to with work. Or perhaps they really aren't for you.

I have never done one with work but have visited quite a few (at least 15) with DH and adult DD. We have absolutely loved the ones we did. TBF we are probably spoiled in that the one nearest to us is regularly votes in the top 5 in the UK and the other we have done have also been good. DD has done 2 or 3 others with friends that she enjoyed but didn't think were quite the same standard and I have read reviews of some that don't sound great.

"I don’t know anyone who likes them."
Whereas I know several people who have tried them and they all had a marvellous time.

@Owt Can't your partner find some other friends to go with? Or maybe research one and talk to the people who run it to see what they say? In the ones we do the space you are in is not usually confined at all, in fact the best place we go you are often occupying 2 or 3 reasonable size rooms. You could get out at any time if you really need to and there is someone monitoring you at all times. I usually find them a very immersive experience where you don't think about anything other than the task in hand for the full 60 minutes.

Why?

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If you don’t like being shut in rooms, don’t do an escape room? I don’t like heights so I wouldn’t do a bungee jump; it’s hardly a big deal to just not do non-essential stuff that you hate.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 👏👏👏👏👏

Surely OP is playing along here?

I speak French, have been to Paris, one of my dogs speaks Romanian. I’m not keen on puzzles though and have size 5 feet.

I speak conversational French and went to Paris - I don’t speak much Spanish in Spain. I like escape rooms but not rollercoasters. I know some Latin.

The OP and subsequent posts actually reads like the information you get in GCSE French textbooks- say “I picked up my ruler and closed a window then got a taxi”

Sorry just made me laugh

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Just say no, but accept that your DH and others go without you. I am not claustrophobic but they do not interest me as an activity.

😂😂😂😂

This has got to go into Classics 😂

I wouldn’t go to an Escape Room if I were you. From your posts, I think you’d struggle with the clues.

I can’t imagine that any fire regulations would allow you to be actually locked in, in any European country.

@Owt if it's not something you want to do, that's absolutely your prerogative.

You could research the particular site being suggested.

Just to reassure you, know that escape room staff are prepared for individuals who find the experience claustrophobic and will allow you to exit the room if needed.

I am claustrophobic and I would hate to do an escape room.

I understand what you mean in your post, people are being deliberately obtuse.

You aren’t an awkward, non-coping person. You are capable and adventurous and can do things. It’s just this particular activity that scares you, quite reasonably.

That’s what I was thinking. Not sure what Paris and speaking German have to do with it. OP if you don’t want to go then just tell him.

For me that would be no good - I need to be able to readily be able to exit to be able to relax and enjoy myself. Not to have to ask someone.

I appreciate that’s not always possible - I’ve actually done a job which involved being in locked rooms. But this is meant to be an enjoyable activity not something to “get through”.

if it's the way someone tries to solve clues, I can see the problem 😂

Random clues or not, some escape rooms are HUGE and have nothing claustrophobic whatsoever. And of course, no one is "locked in:".
It's more claustrophobic in a cinema

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing yes, I do appreciate that, for you it wouldn't be doable but perhaps @Owt may be different...or not.

She definitely should not be coerced or made to feel foolish

I took my DS and his friends on one. We'd all learnt French but it was no help - we gave up, it was a bit boring tbh.
OP, if you can be in a normal room with the doors closed (ie, like you do in your own home) then you'll be fine. They don't padlock you in a small box and expect you to escape like Houdini! He spoke Hungarian.