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embarrassment about using public toilets?

Posted , 5 users are following.

maggie70209
maggie70209

Can you help me feel more confident about using public toilets? sometimes when I go to the toilet, I make a noise (wind) and I'm worried that when I have diarrhoea, and other people can hear it, they'll think bad things about me.

are there things I can say to myself which will help?

how do other people cope with this?

have you had any experiences that will help me?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 maggie70209

    Posted

    When you are in a public loo, you will have locked the cubicle door so if anyone else is in the toilet, they will not even see you so they won’t know who it is.  The loo is where you are mostly likely to hear bowel/bladder sounds, so no one is going to think anything of it.

    You don’t actually know whether or not people are thinking bad things about you and even if they were, that’s their problem, not yours.  However, I think it is highly likely if they are thinking about you at all, they would be more inclined to sympathy that someone is not feeling well.  To be honest, I wouldn’t even worry about scenarios that haven’t actually happened. You are only assuming these things will occur. There is no point in overthinking things because you will end up giving yourself unnecessary stress that will trigger flare ups.

    It doesn’t bother me at all if others hear my bowel gas.  I often get it in my house and every time my dad makes an annoyed face.  I just laugh to myself and just ignore him.  

    • maggie70209
      maggie70209 pippa58442

      Posted

      thank you very much - its really interesting and helpful to hear someone else's perspective - it is much appreciated

  • Elijo
    Elijo maggie70209

    Posted

     I completely agree with Pippa's advice, and on the other hand, you will probably never see any of those people again.  It is what it is, stay cool and go with the flow!  Good luck!

    • maggie70209
      maggie70209 Elijo

      Posted

      thank you, these thoughts are really making a difference

       

  • looloo43
    looloo43 maggie70209

    Posted

    Maggie, I feel for you hun. I have the same problem randomly when i'm out & about. I have colitis & ibs(d). if its available, i usually go to the diabled toilet which is more private than "multiple " public toilets. i have never been challenged using one, but if it were to be challenged i would say "you can't always see disabilty, i have bowel disease".  ibd is covered by the equality & disabilty act. if i cant access a disable toilet, & i have to use a multiple public loo, &  i have an epidsode of diarrea and/or noise, i listen & wait til the people next to me have left then go to the sink etc. i dont let it bother me now, as i have these ways of dealing with it. x

  • sam18386
    sam18386 maggie70209

    Posted

    Hi Maggie, you'll probably never see the people who are in public toilets again. They are public because anyone can use them! Go for it, it's up to you what you do in there.

    • Elijo
      Elijo maggie70209

      Posted

      Magie,  Do all of these comments help to ;give you more confidence when using public toilets?  So often we listen to advice, then when the time comes, we neglect to use it.  Hang in there!       Elinor
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