Public Restrooms: A Mulit-part Series. Dangers, Fears, Strategies, and Techniques

Paruresis
I have decided to write a series on public restrooms since I have a fear of them (paruresis). Perhaps this will help me deal with the problem. This fear has actually gotten much better over the years. I never went #2 in an elementary school restroom. That is no joke. I spent 5 years crafting a bathroom plan so I could avoid using them. If I ever had a diarrhea attack, I would run home since we lived just a few houses away. Things got better over the years, and in high school I was able to go in the nurse's bathroom if there was an emergency. In college I took it a step further and was able to go quite frequently. However, I would only do it in the most secluded of locations. Around that time I started having some stomach problems which required me to find a bathroom every few hours. Then I went on a mission and I had to throw the fear out the window because I had no other options. It was good for me and I can now use pretty much any bathroom. I would barely say I have a fear of public restrooms now.

But there are still things that creep me out about bathrooms, especially public ones. I decided to write some of my best known tips and tricks to feel safe in the bathroom. I will also point out some of the many things you should fear about public restrooms since you probably haven't thought about it as much as I have. I hope you can share your ideas so we can learn together. I think you will realize that I use a lot of the same techniques that you do when in the restroom.

The first thing I want to bring up is what should we call this location? Should it be a restroom? Are people actually resting in there? I know the girls oftentimes have a couch (nasty!), but I think it is weird to call it a restroom. I vote for bathroom. I have never taken a bath in a public restroom, but I have seen several homeless guys and a creep named Tom Clark (potential restroom danger!!) do it. Maybe you have some better ideas? Once we decide on a name, we can jump into this mess....not the bathroom of course.