Hate using public toilets

[squirrelnutkins]

Or indeed anyone else's toilet.

Does anyone else have this problem?

It's just really getting me down as feel I need to plan where I am going and think will there be a toilet there.

I hate going on long journeys and hate using public transport as dont feel in control in case I need the toilet.

Been having these worries for years and not sure if it has got worse since childbirth.

Would be interested to hear if anyone else has this problem or am I alone?

Is it a hygiene thing? If so, could you take a little supply of antibac wipes or something to have a quick swoosh before you sit down? (or hover, depending on the toilet!)

Do you think you won't be hold on if you can't get to a toilet or like Maidamess said hygiene.

I think it's extremely common to have this to some degree - many women hover/put paper on loo seat etc. I had it really bad when PG (had OCD too then), so would mostly only go out for a few hours, to avoid the need to use any public loos. Do you often go on long journeys where you haven't had a chance to suss out the loos beforehand? Keeping a mental list of well kept loos can help to reduce anxiety a bit for your local towns.

I think it is a bit of both really.

I don't feel like I will be able to hold on.

I even have to think what I will be eating before I go out.

If you don't think you'd be able to hold on then what about a pantie liner to give you a bit of confidence.

Do you suffer from IBS ?

You can get hand gels in case your unable to wash hands and like others have said you can get liners for the seat.

Hi,the panty liner is a good idea.

not sure about the IBS,it changes from week to week.

think you have a problem if is interfering in your everyday life to the extent you mention in the op.

i can't believe that people are seeing this as a degree of normality - it is clearly not normal to plan your day and journey around your toilet breaks in case you have to piss i a public loo

fgs.

what is it exactly you think you are going to catch.

i want to eriously say get hold of yourself - but i suspect tht its a phycological problem .

this might help you

Thank you wingsofanangel,will take a look.

I expect it is a psychological problem.

It does infringe on my life day to day.but has become a habit.

Which is why I was asking if anyone else experienced these problems or am I rare in this.

how about a bit of hypnotherapy to get rid of these negative thoughts ? might help ease the anxiety and help you relax

MaryAnnSingleton-that sounds like a good idea,would my GP be able to help with this?

IamthespeedingHam - OK I was not clear in my post - having this degree of avoidance of public loos was part of my mental illness, wasn't suggesting it was normal.

squirrel, I think you can ask your gp though I don't know whether it can be an NHS funded thing - I saw a hypnotherapist for anxiety privately...you'd need to check out one on the register of hypnotherapists to make sure they're properly accredited..will try to link to that in a sec. Would be worth asking your doctor though.

www.hypnotherapists.org.uk/

Thank ypu MaryAnn for your help

Totalchaos-It probably is more common than people think it's just a case of a lot of people find it embarassing to admit,I know I do.

well posts like Iamtheham's hardly help matters do they [hmmm]. I resent sharing something personal from a bad period of my life for someone to just post and run like that.

maybe I just need to get over myself [hmmmm]

yes,agree actually - that posting by Iamtheham wasn't helpful or very kind

I think a lot opf people dislike using public loos for obvious reasons .... that many of them are filthy, smelly, have no soap, nothing to dry your hands on, and so on, but wouldn't necessarily plan a trip around using them.

I do sympathise with you however, though I certainly don't plan, because I suffer from IBS reasonably regularly and if it hits when I'm out all I want to do is get home as quickly as possible (if I can). The thought - and embarrassment - of having to use a public loo which usually offers no privacy (unless it is a single cubicle with a full length solid door and full length walls - instead of partitions) makes the whole experience even more unpleasant. Fellow sufferers will appreciate that you can be sat on the loo for an hour or more - in great pain - but also feeling mortified at noise & smells (sorry if TMI) with a queue of people outside.

If you've got worries about reaching a toilet in time, I'd go to the GP to get yourself checked out just in case.

hello.this is surely an anxiety thing? hope you manage to find some help to sort it soon.