Toilet Phobia

What is it?

Toilet phobia involves fears around toilets, which can include: fear of being too far from a toilet, fear of using a public toilet, fear that others may be watching or scrutinising/listening, or fears of not being able to go to the toilet. Due to the nature of this problem, people are often reluctant to admit to the condition and/or to seek help. Those who do seek help can usually overcome or improve their ability to cope with the problem, even after many years of difficulty. Toilet phobia is something that can affect almost anyone and is not as rare as you might think. Some people are affected significantly by the conditions, while others experience much milder symptoms.

DIY self diagnosis

If you can answer YES to most of the questions it is likely that you may be affected by toilet phobia. During the last 6 months:
  • Have you experienced fear and concerns around going to the toilet?
  • Have your fears or concerns about going to the toilet influenced your daily life?
  • Have you found yourself anxious about the idea of others urinating in public places?
  • Has the idea of having to use a public toilet left you feeling anxious?
  • Have you found yourself worrying that others may overhear you when using the toilet?
Anxiety UK strongly advises that people seek further information and guidance from their GP who will be able to make a formal diagnosis.

Toilet Phobia

Toilet Phobia Fact Sheet

This fact sheet gives a detailed overview, as well as a look at some of the evidence based approaches to treating toilet phobia.		 Download Here

Recommended resources

The Toilet Phobia Booklet includes real experiences from a range of individuals about “Toilet phobia”. You can buy your copy from the online Anxiety UK shop here.

The Toilet Phobia DVD lets you hear from a range of individuals who experience anxieties and fears associated with using the toilet. You can buy your copy from the online Anxiety UK shop here.