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Four million Brits suffer from toilet phobia
The Daily Mail ^ | November 11, 2006 | Staff

Posted on 11/11/2006 4:54:47 AM PST by MadIvan

At least four million Britons suffer from debilitating toilet phobias and most are too embarrassed to seek help, the National Phobics Society (NPS) said.

The NPS, which works with people affected by anxiety disorders, has classified the "secret" problem of toilet phobia as an anxiety condition in its own right and is launching a new campaign to help sufferers.

Toilet phobias range from a mild dislike of public loos to obsessions where sufferers refuse to leave their homes or even undergo potentially life-saving medical examinations.

The NPS said extreme sufferers are often unable to leave their homes, deny themselves fluids which can harm their kidneys, or take drugs to prevent any perceived or real "accidents."

The organisation argues the medical profession needs educating about toilet phobia in order to encourage sufferers to come forward and hopes its new campaign will go some way to tackling the issue.

The NPS believes that the stigma surrounding the phobia means that many people refuse to admit they have a problem.

"It is known as the 'secret' or 'silent' phobia because of its double whammy impact," said Nicky Lidbetter, manager of the NPS, which is launching the Toilet Phobia campaign at the Anxiety Disorders Conference in Manchester on Saturday.

"Few people will talk about having an anxiety disorder in the first place, but for them to admit they have a toilet-related phobia is rare because of the obvious embarrassment and humiliation of being laughed at or not being taken seriously."

"But, no matter how funny we might find it, it's certainly no laughing matter for almost seven per cent of the population who are reported to suffer from this condition."

The NPS has identified a correlation between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) linked to a fear of contamination, Agoraphobia, Paruresis ("shy bladder" syndrome or fear of urinating in the company of others) and Parcopresis ("bashful bowel" syndrome, or the inability to defecate in public toilets).

They are collectively known as toilet-related phobias.

The problem can have serious implications for employers with absenteeism from work.

Many sufferers will not take a job if a toilet is located off a communal area and they can be observed going in or out, and will even create fictions of going to the photocopier or the staff kitchen rather than be seen going into the toilet, the NPS said.

Clinical psychologist and cognitive behaviour therapist, Professor Paul Salkovskis, said the attitude of society in general towards going to the toilet was part of the problem.

"Around the world we use a lot of humour and euphemism to describe what is a basic human function," he said.

"We say 'I'm going to the bathroom' or 'I'm going to powder my nose' because there is a taboo surrounding using the toilet."

Treatments include cognitive behaviour therapy, which helps people to break the cycle of faulty thinking, and hypnosis, which utilises techniques such as visualisation and guided imagery to bring about relaxation.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: greatbritian; phobia; snakesinthepot; stingraysinthepotty; toilet; uk
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To: CPOSharky
Public health problem.

Needs study.

Send money.

$$$$$$$ Right down the toilet.

81 posted on 11/11/2006 6:14:55 AM PST by Thumper1960 (Unleash the Dogs of War as a Minority, or perish as a party.)
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To: Mrs Ivan
So I guess reading the Shelob passages in the Lord of the Rings must have been pretty traumatic, then.

Peter Jackson's film didn't really adequately convey the horror of Shelob, I think.

82 posted on 11/11/2006 6:15:42 AM PST by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Oberon

The book, was much worse - there, there is room for my own imagination to take over and - well, euuurgh.

In the film it pretty much a none event, I mean I didn't say, "Yippee, spiders!" but it was expected and portrayed in a fairly routine manner.


83 posted on 11/11/2006 6:35:07 AM PST by Mrs Ivan (English, and damned proud of it.)
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To: coop71
My hubby refers to me as a poop camel

Now that's funny.

84 posted on 11/11/2006 6:39:13 AM PST by dc27
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To: popdonnelly
Our local gay males prefer the woods and shrubs of our local public parks. It's about the only time they ever go in bush in their life. ;-)

And it NEVER occured to you to transplant large quantities of poison ivy to those parks?

Give the filthy buggers a real itch to scratch.
85 posted on 11/11/2006 6:47:12 AM PST by Dr.Zoidberg (Mohammedism - Bringing you only the best of the 6th century for fourteen hundred years.)
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To: MadIvan
If afraid to use other's toilets, then they should just carry their own.
86 posted on 11/11/2006 6:51:27 AM PST by Lockbar (March toward the sound of the guns.)
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To: MadIvan

Have these people never been to France and Holland where the citizens will pee anywhere? I have seen more people peeing out in the broad open daylight in my several trips to Europe than I have seen in my entire life in the US. I have a very good Dutch friend in the US and that woman will pee anywhere anytime. Amazing!


87 posted on 11/11/2006 6:54:29 AM PST by Ditter
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To: MadIvan

"It is known as the 'secret' or 'silent' phobia because of its double whammy impact,"

Double whammy super secret phobia bump.


88 posted on 11/11/2006 6:54:40 AM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Mrs Ivan
Our bathrooms are infested with horrible hairy spiders that like to lie in wait for me - I think they like the sound of me screaming.

For some reason, they avoid you.

Hahaha, I have SUCH a difficult time not responding to MY wife's posts on here! We have a truce about not bringing the threads home.

It's a plot. Do we use our wives to scare the spiders away so it is safe for us, thereby never seeing the dreaded Loo Spiders?

Like flushing game?

89 posted on 11/11/2006 7:04:39 AM PST by Gorzaloon ("Illegal Immigrant": The Larval form of A Democrat.)
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To: MadIvan

I've always thought they were just afraid of tooth brushes. Now toilets too!


90 posted on 11/11/2006 7:05:47 AM PST by KoRn
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To: Oberon
She also says, by the way, that Ivan is quite handsome, even from her accustomed angle.

My Oberon! what visions have I seen! Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.

--A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act IV, Scene I

Cheers!

91 posted on 11/11/2006 7:11:50 AM PST by grey_whiskers
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To: MadIvan

92 posted on 11/11/2006 7:11:52 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Democrats are guilty of whatever they scream the loudest about.)
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To: grey_whiskers
gw, that's rather more irony than I was expecting this morning. Thank you very much!
93 posted on 11/11/2006 7:13:03 AM PST by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Oberon
:-)

Off to ride my bicycle now...

94 posted on 11/11/2006 7:13:47 AM PST by grey_whiskers
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To: MadIvan
Toilet phobias range from a mild dislike of public loos

I thought that was known as common sense.

95 posted on 11/11/2006 7:14:42 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Those who call their fellow citizens Sheeple are just ticked they were not chosen as Shepherds)
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To: MadIvan
A funny, possibly related link...

The Sewergator Sanctuary

96 posted on 11/11/2006 7:22:20 AM PST by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: MadIvan

Maybe they watched "Lethal Weapon 2" a few too many times.


97 posted on 11/11/2006 7:28:38 AM PST by Chewie84
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To: MadIvan

I used to worry when I was a kid that some aquatic creature would swim up the pipes and bite my balls - after all, one is most vulnerable whilst seated on the toilet.


98 posted on 11/11/2006 7:33:20 AM PST by Solamente (Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out...)
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To: Ultra Sonic 007; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; SandyInSeattle; Darksheare; ...
If I had to use a public toilet, then I'd be scared to! Have you seen those things?

Be afraid. Be very afraid.


99 posted on 11/11/2006 7:42:59 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (Natalie Maines fears me...)
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To: MadIvan

"I find this article absolutely hilarious."

This is a very real phobia; as unexplainable but nearly as common as your partner's fear of spiders yet far more debilitating. My question is: Why do you find it so laughable? Do you still giggle as fart jokes?


100 posted on 11/11/2006 7:43:06 AM PST by san juan
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