does anyone have a fear of not being near a bathroom?

JoJo1079 · Post by **JoJo1079** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:53 am

RD Terriers- You sound exactly like me! On the way back from Cabo they had us circling in the air for over an hour and I had no choice but to get up. The entire plane was flipping out that I got up but I was like- I am going to be sick and that is that. So ever since then I HAVE take a full xanax before I get on and I try to take early flights and do nto eat ANYTHING before I get on- I just sleep. I am the same way w meetings here at my investment bank. I am ruining my own chances to be more involved and to be more of an asset bc I am afraid that if I go to the meeting they will expect me to all the time and if I leave unexpectantly on more than one occasion that they will be like " what is wrong w her"- i can not explain this situation ya know? Its a comforting feeling to know we all feel like this, however it does not really help me deal. I HAVE to go #2 before I get on the ferry/train in the am or else i BUG out and am stuck. I basically feel helpless and hopeless

I am considering giving up an awesome job here just to avoid that commute. Any strategies you have would be great. I am trying to get pregnant so like to aboid meds at all costs. Thanks again everyone!!

Terez · Post by **Terez** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:21 am

You know I used to feel this way...and then for some reason it went away but now I have IBS and so as soon as I feel anxious I feel like my stomach starts and I feel like I need to go to the bathroom....I just hate it...but I'm trying to deal with it and the program and know it's OK and not freak myself out....cause it's US that's being scared...I hope I make sense...you really as hard as it is try not to obsess about it...I mean so you have to go to the bathroom? That's OK do your breathing and believe in yourself....You can get over it....BELIEVE...I hope that helps

momtoboys · Post by **momtoboys** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:13 pm

This is a problem for me. It isn't just being near a bathroom...it is the embarassment of having to go several times. I can't hold it like I used to be able to do. It is terrible for work. Effexor and Paxil both helped but I can't take either right now. I know the anxiety makes it worse but I have it other days when I'm home and relaxed as well. It is so hard. Plus I'm a teacher so we can't go whenever we need to go.

murf46 · Post by **murf46** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:17 pm

I hate that you all are going through this, but it makes me feel better to know that I am not alone. This has changed my life- for the worse. I am constantly making up excuses so I don't have to go places. I have 5 children and they are all involved in so many activities. I know how many minutes it takes to get everywhere I go. Mainly so I can talk myself into being "okay" for those minutes. It is awful! I take Lexapro and Zanax. I also take Immodium everytime I have to leave the house. I avoid trips and when I do go on one- I really can't enjoy myself because I'm always worried about the bathroom problems. This is just an awsul way to live!

MandyWilliams · Post by **MandyWilliams** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:58 am

I totally understand also. I actually avoid routes where there are no bathrooms. It go so bad I started counting businesses where I knew if I needed to I could go to the bathroom I could. I've been working on this fear a long time and I'm better at it now. I'm not as bad as I used to be. I just keep telling myself it's all worry and fear in my head. It will pass. And for some reason when I kept telling myself this it got better for me.

mikedet · Post by **mikedet** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:13 am

hey everyboby. my name is mike. im 36. when i was 20 i was on a road trip to the beach with a buddy. so were in the middle of a bridge when all of a sudden i needed to use the bathroom. and had to go now! i went into a panic attack,sweaty, felt like i was going to passout, and couldnt control myself and before we could get off the bridge i went. from that day on i kept thinking to myself what if this happens again and and quickly became stuck in the house for fear of this happening again. i found certain places i could get too and enjoy myself while i was there. certain friends houses, my parents, and a local bar.
i know how everyone feels about drinking and driving but i found 2 or three beers would calm me down and i could get to more places. that is if i was driving(i cant drive with anybody else. i always take my vehicle) and i could leave if need be.
so now 16 years later i want to live a normal life. im a very popular guy and have great friends who just think i like staying home. im starting to run out of excusses why i dont want to go places. well i just started opening up to them about how my life is but only to a certain extent. and i have a girlfriend of two years who has stuck by me but really doesnt know what is wrong with me and she doesnt ask much because i usually get mad and try and change the topic. she deals with it. i owe her alot.
i, like most of you, load up on immodium and my doctor has perscribed many drugs for me with hopes that one will work. none have yet but im hopefull.
sorry for writing a book but i havent really opened up about this to many people. just my mom, the doc and a friend or two. any words of hope would be great. i have lost 16 years of my life and i want to start living! i was going to start a ten day program at a local hospital but i fear that they wont be able to help. (nothing has so far) like its my last hope and im going to be like this forever.

emily hartnett · Post by **emily hartnett** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 6:27 pm

hi mike. i am in maryland too. bay bridge or key bridge? that is an upsetting experience. you might be having spasms in your colon which make you feel sudden urges to go to the bathroom. i have those too. i take protonix, nexium, fiber, and acidophilis. it does help. i would try taking little trips at first and then build up to longer trips. try to pick main roads where there are fast food places- there are plenty of those. the best thing you can do is to just explain to people- its sooo liberating. they may not completely understand, but at least they will know that you are not blowing them off. i hope that helps. little steps at first, not huge leaps. and try to take it easy on "normal" people. they don't get it but its not their fault. you can do it if you tell yourself that you can. you can never do it if you allow you to talk yourself out of it. if you need to talk feel free to message me.

JoJo1079 · Post by **JoJo1079** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:47 am

Mike- I totally hear you. I also agree that after a glass of wine or two its all different for me. However we should find other ways to cope. After a few years of never being able to take the train I really started to just tell myself that its ok. I know it sounds crazy but the more I liberated myself I felt better. I too had an accident on myself twice in the past 6 years and its awful, but I really just start to see the signs early and do not ignore them. I think its a combination of controlling your anxiety and telling yourself you are fine and will be fine but also knowing when you need to get yourself out of that situation and try to relieve yourself. I too only drive with certain people and could NEVER go in a limo or party bus with tons of people and no bathroom...that sounds like torture to me. Like you said I try my best to do what I can but if I want to drive myself or what not I do what I have to and that is that. I do not explain it at great lenght to everyone and sometimes just say I have claustrophobia issues....not fully lying. We are always here to talk

mikedet · Post by **mikedet** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:03 pm

hey emily and jojo. i couldnt find the site after i posted lol.
im glad i found this site. i felt like i was the only one dealing with this. its good to read how others deal with their problems. ive been to a couple psychologists but after months of "treatment" at $180. a pop i felt like they were just taking my money. there was no progress. one day i asked my mom to wack me in the head with a shovel so i would hopefully end up with amnesia and maybe forget the way i am but she wouldnt lol. so i struggle on.

GCaruso · Post by **GCaruso** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:48 am

Hey bella123, you are not alone. I am obsessed with always thinking im going to have an accident or be sick. I thought I was so bad, that I actually have an empty coffee container in my car just in case. When I'm drivinng I tell myself so what? If worse comes to worse I"ll pull over into a neighborhood and go. I just have to tell myself my stomach is calm and healed over and over. What's the worst thats gonna happen. You get sick oh well then you leave and get cleaned up. Its not like people dont get sick. If they do judge then who cares. At the end of the day your not gonna see those people in a restaurant or a public place again. They have no right to judge.