Home is the only safe place for me, its getting this way

sparky · Newbie User Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 5

Hi
Im new today,Im a 32 yrs old male with a demanding job which is my dream job.
My life is in bits as I am haunted by this phobia of needing the loo.

It started when I was in situations where I felt trapped or cornered or crowded places. I got so anxious I needed to go for wee but when I got to the loo I didnt need to go.(or out of the situation).

Now I have it the other way round, not a wee anymore its the other, it started when going out for a meal or to a crowed place, it happens when I am waiting or in a queue, at work etc..

If I am in control, driving or in charge of what I am doing I am usually ok but it is in situations where I am not that it can happen. It is now a fear that stops me from going anywhere, if I know there is a toilet about I am usually ok however I dont want to be noticed going to the loo which makes it worse.

Help help help........the stress is to much....does anyone else have this type of fear or symptoms.

Medically I am fine and I am successful however this started 5 years ago and is now ruining my life.

Regards
Sparky

sparky · Newbie User Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 5

Nope I am serious, its a prob that is becomming a nightmare

I am outgoing and love having a laugh, the man of of the moment but now I dont go out, dont do anything without the fear of needing the loo.
It is made worse by crowds, eating in resturants etc..

Its horrible

Medical reasons have been eliminated, Im told by a councilor it is a fear and fight or flight condition

Anyone suffer this type of problem

feelalone

Shattered · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:54 am Post subject:

Wow! My husband had the same when he was younger. It was all in his head but he's got OCD so it was CONSTANT for him. I don't really know the whole story as to how he got better from it (not the OCD, but that certain thing). I just thought I'd let you know you aren't alone.

hammer00 · Newbie User Joined: Aug 17, 2006 Posts: 2

Hi, I have the EXACT same feeling. I feel like I am about have diarrea when I am in situations outside of my control. My mother had the same symptoms and they were COMPLETELY removed with the use of Paxil. I started taking it about a week ago so I am waiting for it to kick in (it takes a few weeks)

Plz PM me anyone that knows more about this and can maybe relate and help me find ways to cope without meds. THX!

L · Newbie User Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2

Oh my god,
I thought I was like the only person with this stupid ridiculous excuse of a phobia.
The anxiety all started at school during assemblies, but that was more a fear of being jammed in with so many people around me then it moved on to feeling that i was losing control during exams, classroom lessons. Now I live in London I get anxiety sometimes when using the tube because I know I'm jammed in and wont be able to go to the toilet. Sometimes I need to get off the tube because it becomes too much and I could never do a long coach or car journey because of it, I would be way too traumatised and worried about feeling the fear of needing to go to the toilet. On a bad day I also end up giving myself diarrhoea because i make myself so nervous about the anticipation of being stuck on the tube which only makes me panic even more, that im gonna need the toilet, but cutting out coffee and bread in the mornings has helped me a bit + rescue remedy is kinda good for calming yourself down during a panicky situation. Ive often tried to think deeply about what would be so bad if it did ever happen on a tube or public place then I realise its a fear of humiliating myself in front of other people and have them laugh at me- i dont know where this comes from, its an annoying bloody phobia and hard to talk about because to other people it must sound so stupid and pointless.

thequietone · Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject:

This used to be a lot worse when I was a kid, so at least there's improvement, but for me it's kind of a compulsion...I of course have OCD. I don't know what it is about going to the bathroom, but I ALWAYS go, even if I don't need to, if I'm about to leave somewhere. It used to be so bad that I would use the bathroom 6 times (always an even #) before bed and if I didnt do it right and get back to bed before the toilet was done flushing, then something (I don't know what) bad would happen...
Road trips are usually awful for me because my dad is the type who does not pull over to stop.... Embarassed

I think that's where it started, being stuck in the car with no escape. It became a panic thing and to avoid the panic I would go to great lengths making sure there was a bathroom nearby, not drinking water, always "emptying" myself before doing something....
I don't know if this is the same as what you guys are talking about, but it's how I relate...I never really talked about it before because it's pretty strange and embarrassing.

maggie · Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:33 pm Post subject:

hiya sparky..this is not exactly the same...but similar..i always make sure i use the bathroom before i go anywhere..like 3 or 4 times Embarassed

..cause i really hate to go anywhere else..and i have to scope out where the bathroom is FIRST when i get somewhere..just so i know where it is..just in case Exclamation

..but i never go alone..cause i'm afraid i might not be able to find who i am out with..when i'm done...and look like a dork..searching everywhere Rolling Eyes

...thank God i'm a girl..and we have all separate stalls in a public bathroom.. and i don't have to pee where others can see in urinal like you guys do...i give you credit for that...not sure i could do it Wink

mo · Newbie User Joined: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 1

I have been suffering from bath problems for a few years. I was on Paxil but it put 15 pounds on me. Did not like that. I went off in in February and had my first little act in NYC the place where there is no bathrooms. I am going to start talking to someone. I hope that works. I take anti dirrheal meds. It does make me feel better. I just wish it will go away. It is making my life bad. I can not go anywhere.

carebear75 · Newbie User Joined: Sep 01, 2006 Posts: 1

WOW- This is crazy, I cannot believe others have this same phobia! I am 30, and I think my fear began when i was in my early 20's, when i felt sick and was trapped in a car on the tollway. so now i WILL not go anywhere if there is not a bathroom near. Driving has become my main issue- i am ok if i am alone in my car, but of others are with me, then i start to freak out- what if i have to go to the bathroom, but there are none around!? i mean really, what are the options? go in my pants and be mortified??? i will not ride in anyone's car - except for my family, then i am usually ok. this is just so crazy and i am tired of dealing with it. no one can figure out this intense fear, so i feel like a freak....i am so tired of having to make up crazy excuses to get out of situations. First it was just cars, then i got trapped in an elevator for almost 2 hours, so now i am afraid of ANYWHERE that does not have a bathroom. It sucks! I am so thrilled you guys can relate, though i am sorry you have to deal with it too! Maybe we can all help eachother~!