I can't go to the bathroom if someone is in the bathroom besides me. What can I do?

Hi Tom,

I've talked with lots of men (and some women) who have difficulty using the restroom with other people present.  It can be a symptom of social anxiety, although some people (especially men) have difficulty with public restrooms who don't meet criteria for social anxiety disorder.

Essentially social anxiety disorder involves difficulty doing things in front of other people where there is a potential to be embarrassed or humiliated. One effective way to address your problem would be to talk with a cognitive-behavioral therapist who can help you identify what is going through your mind while in the restroom, come up with some alternative thoughts, and then test them out. 

I hope that gets you started in the right direction!

Regards,

Jennifer L. Fee, Psy.D. Psychologist

www.thestressmasters.com