Anxiety re: using public restrooms?

[fanoforlando]

So the past few times i have gone to WDW i have tried to eat very light, even though it would be a not-so-enjoyable experience with my family, i have anxiety about using the public bathrooms for fear of "catching" something.


I held it as long as i could through the day but only because i have a fear of public restrooms.

I really hate the mental anguish that comes with this feeling as i feel like i am becoming a burden on my family's time together...

anyone have any similar problems? I have noticed that some people just walk in , do their business and walk out without a care in the world, well i envy these people, because they fear not catching something...


am i just mentally uncapable of enjoying what Orlando has to offer?

 

[Schmeck]

Can you do some research online to see if you can find some studies about these things you are afraid of 'catching'? Are there any statistics out there for illnesses caused by shared toilet seats? Could you bring some sanitizer with you to wipe down the seat, etc?

To be honest, there are just as many germs on the ride attraction vehicles as there are in a public toilet. They are not all magically confined to the restrooms. You've already been in contact with these germs, and you're fine!

 

[fanoforlando]

i am also afraid of public defecating, am i just nuts for feeling like this?

 

[cglaura]

I agree, you can catch something anywhere. Shopping cart handle, hangers on clothes in stores, clothes other people tried on in stores, door handles, phones, money. Just wearing your shoes back into your house, think about it!

But I can sympathize, because my dd17 has the same fears. She has "accepted" them by doing the following:

She applies hand sanitizer before, as sort of a barrier. She wipes the seat with a clorox clean wipe, we keep a zipbag of them with us.

Wash hands very thoroughly in hot water, more sanitizer. Don't touch the door on the way out, use a paper towel to open it.

While I know some may see this as overly cautious that she does it (I do not and she thinks I'm a loony, even though neither of us have ever caught anything), it at least allows her day less stress.

HTH! You are not alone

Don't worry about publicly going...chances are you will NEVER see any of those people again, as long as you are not hurting anyone, who cares if they hear you plop Umm, was that TMI?

 

[mechurchlady]

First step is to find out why you have these irrational fears.

It could be something traumatic like a scary statue in a bathroom, an embarassing incident, neurovariations, something that scared you as a kid, fear of embarassment like "OMG they will hear me poop", and fear of germs. Once you get to the source then you can procede. Start with a known clean bathroom and walk inside. How do you feel? Get used to the place and feel at home there. Companion bathrooms are good for this.

It is not a simple wearing of gloves and dousing a bathroom with Lysol. If as a kid you had a brother who screamed at you while you used the bathroom then you might develop a distain for bathrooms. It could be something you read about or heard on television or saw on the internet. I avoid the bathroom at home because then mom will make me work even if I am puking ill.

In the mean time use the bathroom in the nurse's lounge as you know those are clean and just like in a hospital.

 

[SueM in MN]

First step is to find out why you have these irrational fears.

It could be something traumatic like a scary statue in a bathroom, an embarassing incident, neurovariations, something that scared you as a kid, fear of embarassment like "OMG they will hear me poop", and fear of germs. Once you get to the source then you can procede. Start with a known clean bathroom and walk inside. How do you feel? Get used to the place and feel at home there. Companion bathrooms are good for this.

It is not a simple wearing of gloves and dousing a bathroom with Lysol. If as a kid you had a brother who screamed at you while you used the bathroom then you might develop a distain for bathrooms. It could be something you read about or heard on television or saw on the internet. I avoid the bathroom at home because then mom will make me work even if I am puking ill.

In the mean time use the bathroom in the nurse's lounge as you know those are clean and just like in a hospital.

I would NOT consider Companion Restrooms to be known clean restrooms. Many of them are much dirtier than the regular restrooms and I often have to do some cleaning before I can use them with my DD.
My thought for why is that many children are using them unsupervised because a lot of parents are using them as 'safe' restrooms with only one door. Many of the children are not leaving the bathroom in good condition (toilet paper all over, seat 'sprinkled', etc). I know this happens because I see kids coming out with the parents sitting outside.

Nurses' lounges are not necessarily any cleaner than any other restrooms.

 

[mechurchlady]

Hugs Sue

I meant from a psychological viewpoint. If the person has bathroom issues because of trauma and fear other than germs then they would need a safe place to start off with. The fear of going to the bathroom might stem from embarassment issues thus the privacy of a friendly nurse's station or private companion bathroom would be a better start.

The original poster needs to first find out the root for the bathroom issues. Is it trauma related, anxiety related such as embarassment and overthinking things, or is it a fear of something like germs. If a person has anxiety issues then you could put them in the most sterile bathroom but the anxiety issues would still be there.

As for germs I look at toilet handles and think of people kicking them with their dirty hands but I just live my dirty life and hope for the best. I know the facts but do not dwell on it as I would let my latent OCD monster have a field day with germ fears if I wanted too.

Sorry to befuddle everyone again. Maybe that person is right that I do not belong here any more.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry to befuddle everyone again. Maybe that person is right that I do not belong here any more.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Unless you actually sit on the seat (and who does that in a public restroom??) and/or you don't wash your hands (that's disgusting!), I don't see how you'll catch anything.

If you have a physical issue that requires you to sit on the seat, get some plastic seat covers. I've picked up a pocket-sized pack of Charmin toilet seat covers at Bed, Bath, & Beyond (in their travel-sized beauty products area) before, for just in case I ever need to do a #2 in a public restroom (which hasn't happened yet, thankfully, despite the issues I have).

Going to the bathroom is such a waste of time and public restrooms can be nasty, but it has to be done and Disney's restrooms are kept pretty clean.

Most of the faucets are motion-sensored, as far as what I can recall, so you won't have to touch a faucet. The door handle is an issue in some bathrooms, so just carry the paper towel you use to open it with you to the next trash can outside the bathroom - Disney has trashcans about every 30 feet or something like that, so you'll always find one.

And don't forget your Safe4Hours and/or Purell hand sanitizers!