Poop phobia

[namechangequeen35]

Wasn't sure where to put this thread Sorry for posting about such a subject.

I am going on holiday with 15 friends in a few months. Our accommodation only has 3 toilets and I'm already wondering how on Earth I'm going to be able to poop.

The thought of someone hearing/smelling fills me with dread.

I can do the trick of waiting until I need a shower but what about the times around that.

This phobia takes over any event like this. How do I get over it?

Can you remember when/why this started? As a baby/toddler you had no inhibitions so there must have been something that started this off.

I think it came from my family mocking each other.

So they'd continually make comments about toilets habits. Add this to being self conscious and it's not a good combo

This kind of thing stresses me out as well, and I bet out of 15 people you aren’t the only one worrying about it either. I’ve found it’s almost better to be open about these things, as it takes the stigma away. A message in the WhatsApp group like “right everyone, what are the plans for sharing the bathrooms when we go away? I’m already feeling anxious about getting into embarrassing toilet situations, so can we set up some ground rules, so we’re all comfortable?”

Chances are half the people you’re going with will be relieved!

I’d suggest an automatic “give it 10 mins” rule if someone has just been in the bathroom, regardless of what they were doing. And no standing outside the door if someone is in there.

Even at home, I have a portable bluetooth speaker in the bathroom, and 'mynoise.net' app on my phone. I play the 'Rain noise' so loudly that I can't even hear myself.

Just set it up like you want it, when you get there, and tell people outright about the app, and that they're welcome to use your speaker if they have 'bathroom phobia', and that they might sometimes hear loud rain when it's sunny!

https://mynoise.net/

It's brilliant. I discovered in in lockdown, when I used to play the 'Restaurant' sounds at home whilst I worked.

Before you get “down to business” open the window. Leave it open for a bit afterwards too. This is common courtesy at home or away.

Steam from a shower holds odour so take that into account. It doesn’t neutralise it.

Take a box of matches into the loo with you. Strike several matches after using the loo and let them burn for a few seconds. I’ve heard this helps to neutralise odour. Try this at home before going away.

Take room fresheners spray with you BUT don’t stand within range of the spray or that will become your “perfume” for the day!

If possible locate a “public” loo within the complex/hotel/area you're staying in. Head to that as necessary.

With 15 of you it's pretty unlikely that you'll all spend all of the time together.

I bet first thing in the morning everyone will be asleep and you can just go to the bathroom furthest from the bedrooms. Or if everyone's by the pool just say you're going to have a break from the sun and read your book in the apartment or whatever.

The other thing is to remind yourself on repeat that this is something that everyone does. You could take some particularly fragrant shower gel and fill the basin with nice perfumed bubbly water while you're on the loo if that helps re the smell.

The other thing is to remind yourself on repeat that this is something that everyone does

You don't understand the phobia, do you! That's like 'Just tell yourself that spiders are harmless!' Doesn't work.

@Watchkeys I don't have this particular phobia but I am emetophobic. Actually, I do find it help me when I remind myself that everyone vomits and survives (I get a visceral feeling that I'm going to die when I'm about to be sick).

It might not be a helpful suggestion for everyone, but it could be for someone.

No it's not. But anything you learn can be unlearnt. Your subconscious has learnt (wrongly) to believe you will be mocked/made to feel embarrassed for doing something completely normal, so it's trying to protect you by keeping you away from those situations. Like any phobia it can be reversed.

With 15 people in the house, nobody is going to be tracking who did what and when.

You do realise the only person who cares about this is you? Your friends aren't your (cruel) family. Nobody will notice, know or care whether you go to the toilet for a number one or a number two, to change a sanitary towel or to read the newspaper, they really, actually won't.

Try CBT therapy for phobias. If you can't afford it, google "thought record sheet" and use it to work on this for yourself.

Is this not just announcing to everyone that you are going for a dump? Like nobody would know what you were doing in there without 'rain' but with 'rain' you are drawing all of the attention to you it's like oh Watchkeys is shitting now,. Or do you play anytime you go into the bathroom for any reason?

@FuppingEll

In op's situation, I'd just do it every time, for a pee, poo, blow my nose, wash my hands... and possibly even take 5 minutes every time, for whatever... job.

At home, I do actually do it for just the one type of... job, these days. I guess it depends how sensitive a person is about it. Some people don't even like to be heard peeing. I've accepted that my partner knows I poo, now, but it took a while when we were first together!

Get some poopouri. Spray it in toilet before pooping and it kind of locks the smell in. It does work. I have serious stomach problems and it's got me through lots of public poos 😆

I worry about this too. Before you go put a load of toilet paper in the toilet and then.no one will hear it. Also what about using VIPOO? I've never tried it myself but it's supposed to eliminate odours.

Isn't it so weird that the one thing WE ALL do is such a problem! It's interesting though that it's mostly a girl problem because we have a really high disgust propensity ... Also the reason it's mostly girls who get emetophobia. Boys, from a really young age are peeing up walls and the like so bodily fluids and habits aren't such an issue. Not helpful I know. But i'm also a fan of VIPoo!

Wondering how you got on @namechangequeen35 ? Was it as bad as you thought? I have this phobia myself.

I have the same embarrassment! Put loads of toilet paper in the toilet before you go, so there's no splash or any other noise. Have you tried VI Poo? It's supposed to deal with the odour.

Oh I've have the same issue, I'd suggest some ViP poo I think it's called. You can buy it on Amazon or in some of the shops. It's a spray that you spray down the toilet before you go and it neutralises any smell 😀.
Try not to worry too much tho, we all have to go to the bathroom and many people feel the same.
Go enjoy your holiday with your friends ☺️