Hi folks! Maybe not so common obsession but I have toilet related OCD. I have IBS D and SIBO and I am always worried when I am outside the house, especially when I am at work that I might need acutely use the toilet and I will not be able to so I am always focused on the feelings of my bowels and it drives me nuts and gives me anxiety :( I feel much better when I am home... Have you had something similar or maybe you have some advice?

sks2011

Date posted: 5y

I have gastroparesis and I was so absorbed in the same way with this that I couldn't leave for months. After starting anxiety pills I feel so much more at ease.

Katoka Ari

Date posted: 5y

I am taking ssri already... did you do some erp for this one or it just got better by itself?

sks2011

Date posted: 5y

@Katoka Ari I take SSRI's too. It got better once the anxiety pills began to kick in.

HappyGirl19

Date posted: 5y

I had severe toilet anxiety as a child because I was terrified of using automatic toilets which will flush before a person is done using it. That fear has survived all the way through my young adult years to the point where I’ll still have an “unidentified” fear of going new places (turns out it was bathroom anxiety all along), and my turnoff about public bathrooms is so long lasting that my normal bodily functions will stop until I’m back in my home environment. I have IBS as well but my fear of public toilets has actually caused some constipation which for the most part makes it where I can wait until I’m home to go, but not always

HappyGirl19

Date posted: 5y

I’ll have that sometimes, too (the fear of not finding a bathroom), which has resulted in drinking less water while I’m away from home even though I want to stay hydrated. By managing the stress in that way, I drink less water which isn’t the best trade

Katoka Ari

Date posted: 5y

I like your nickname ?

HappyGirl19

Date posted: 5y

@Katoka Ari Aw thanks ? it was the first thing that came to mind when I got this app and I thought I should go with it!

???

Date posted: 5y

I used to work in a small office where using the bathroom was not something I wanted to share with everyone either. I also have sibo but taking antibiotics right now. Did you get antibiotics for yours? Key for me was finding a couple bathroom options near my office I did feel comfortable using eg hotel lobby bathrooms etc.

???

Date posted: 5y

Also stress and anxiety are key reasons you can get sibo so make sure you do some mindfulness exercises if you can eg yoga / breathing etc

HappyGirl19

Date posted: 5y

I haven’t taken any antibiotics, and I don’t have sibo to my knowledge. There have definitely been times when the conditions of a public bathroom made me uncomfortable, especially when there are huge gaps between stalls and the possibility of a lock not working. Yeah I’ve had to work hard to find bathrooms I’m comfortable with using when I’m away from home and I had to work at getting comfortable enough to actually use them

Katoka Ari

Date posted: 5y

I take herbal antimicrobials now. For me it is more that I worry that I wont be able to find a bathroom when I need and I work as engineer in the big factory and leaving my working place often can cause stop in my work. And then I work and am anxious that I shall need to use the bathroom again when I should be working... it's difficult ?

Katoka Ari

Date posted: 5y

And all the time before I leave my working place I need to say it on the radio to all other workers... ugh I think this creates extra anxiety

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