Do you have a phobia about using public toilets?

Question

Are you afraid to use public restrooms? Do you think this is a rational fear, or a phobia? If you have this fear, has being unable to use public bathrooms made your life more difficult or uncomfortable?

Answer 1

It's just a matter of sanitation and being comfortable. I hate to use public restrooms, but I refuse to give myself and infection!

I look for the cleanest one possible.

Answer 2

It depends on whether you mean the actual phobia (can't remember the name - there are websites that list them) or just what many men feel - "piss-shyness" at standing in a row of men to do your business.

The latter is common enough - many men go into a cubicle even when there is plenty of space at the urinal.

The phobia is rare and, like most, makes it almost impossible for sufferers to enter, let alone use, public 'restrooms'.

Myself - I'm not worried too much, but if I need to use a cubicle always wipe the seat down first and give hands a better than usual wash afterwards. (Pointless, really - you then have to open a door using a handle which all the unwashed hands have touched - but these things aren't "rational"!)

Answer 3

I hate using public toilets and will only do so if it's a gut-busting emergency because I hate soiling my trousers in public even more. Yes, it's rational. Some people can't aim worth a damn and tend to spray their woozle all over the place. Yes, it can be a pain in the butt sometimes but that's life. Sure would be easier if other people knew how to put their poo in the water and not on the seat.

Answer 4

I don't like using public toilets and try not to but my 20 year old son reckons he has a public toilet phobia-just will not use them,same with motels or other peoples (friends and family)toilets. That's probably why he does'nt go out much.

Answer 5

I do. Because usually when I use a urinal a guy will come stand RIGHT next to me.

Hey I'm gay but that still bothers me for some reason. It's like a total invasion of privacy. I don't know why other guys stand RIGHT next to me when there's like 12 other empty urinals.

I can only usually go if there's nobody else in the room or if I go in the stall.

I also have mild social phobia so that might have something to do with it.

Answer 6

Usually, public toilets have stalls with doors on them that lock for privacy. Most have paper toilet seat covers to put on the seats for protection. You can always carry travel size disinfectant wipes & wipe the toilet seat down to give you more peace of mind. I think you are worrying too much about stuff you have no control over.

Answer 7

I hate using public bathrooms. I think it's because you never know what has happened in there before you got there, and I just hate people hearing me pee! It hasn't made life harder for me, I just always go before I leave home.

Answer 8

If I have to take a dumb I usually refuse depending on where I'm at to use a public toilet lol. I'm a germaphobe.

Answer 9

urinals-no
toilet seats----yes, yes, yes.
for this reason i will not use the bathroom while out. it can be painful, but "tis better to bear the pain than to bear the pain of hiv/aids."
as long as it is reported that hiv/aids is spread through bodily fluids, this is a fear, not a phobia for me. i feel it's a legitimate fear based nn scientific evidence.

Answer 10

my kid freaks out if she has to use the public toilet. I think she is right to they are nasty. With all the bugs and illness a person can get from a public toilet is to scary to hink about it.