Shower Anxiety

[lexinonomous]

You're standing in the shower, getting ready to wash your hair. When washing your hair, you have to close your eyes to prevent the soap from burning. That's when the anxiety sets in. Someone creepy is behind the curtain and now you can't see them because your eyes are closed! If you're anything like me, you know how ridiculous this scenario is, but you may have experienced it. Showering can cause tons of anxiety when it comes to the unknown. Not knowing what lies ahead once your eyes are closed can set in a ton of anxious feelings.


I find myself squinting to make sure no one has entered the bathroom without my knowledge. It's silly, but my emotions go nuts when I'm showering.


Does anyone else struggle with closing their eyes in the shower?


Do you think this stems from horror movies?

 

[listener1987]

Okay, I have to admit, I've never talked to anyone with this particular fear. But you mentioned it might be inspired by horror movies and that makes perfect sense. I'm curious, do you watch a lot of them?


Oh! And I'm wondering, Do you lock your bathroom door?


Plus, you're spot on when you say the fear comes because of the unknown. Yes, it's not rational to be afraid that something scary will happen whenever you close your eyes in the shower - but that's what anxiety is, right? It's not rational.


Do you have the same feeling when you close your eyes at night?

 

[kgord]

Yes, it could be from watching horror movies, in particular Psycho. I watched Scream the Netflix series the other night, and even though I have always been able to sleep after horror movies, for some reason that particular one got to me, and I had a nightmare not only that night, but the next night. I think that one is a no no for me, at least before bed. You may have witnessed something disturbing like that at one time, and it just sort of embedded in your brain.

 

[LovelyLiz]

I wouldn't call it a full-blown anxiety personally, but I do feel uncomfortable about the idea of being naked in the bathroom. I tend to worry about someone coming in and interrupting me before I get in the bath. I suppose for me you could say it's a fear of being vulnerable, and people seeing me in that state, I don't know... There have been times when I'm in the bath and my housemate wanted to come in to use the toilet, and I've not wanted to be seen in that state.


Do you know what it is that you feel anxious about, Lexie? I think I feel the same to an extent, but I can't quite pin down why.

 

[lexinonomous]

I wouldn't call it a full-blown anxiety personally, but I do feel uncomfortable about the idea of being naked in the bathroom. I tend to worry about someone coming in and interrupting me before I get in the bath. I suppose for me you could say it's a fear of being vulnerable, and people seeing me in that state, I don't know... There have been times when I'm in the bath and my housemate wanted to come in to use the toilet, and I've not wanted to be seen in that state.
Do you know what it is that you feel anxious about, Lexie? I think I feel the same to an extent, but I can't quite pin down why.

It can sometimes turn into full on anxiety, but not very often. I've had panic attacks over something as silly as a noise while my eyes were closed in the shower. It feels silly to even type that, but alas, it's my reality.


I'm constantly worried that someone is going to walk into the bathroom while I'm showering. The silliest fear I have is that someone is going to randomly walk into my house and decide t walk into the bathroom to kill me.

Okay, I have to admit, I've never talked to anyone with this particular fear. But you mentioned it might be inspired by horror movies and that makes perfect sense. I'm curious, do you watch a lot of them?
Oh! And I'm wondering, Do you lock your bathroom door?


Plus, you're spot on when you say the fear comes because of the unknown. Yes, it's not rational to be afraid that something scary will happen whenever you close your eyes in the shower - but that's what anxiety is, right? It's not rational.


Do you have the same feeling when you close your eyes at night?

I do lock the door while showering. I hate when people walk in to use the restroom while I'm showering and I'm always afraid of some random person walking into my house (completely irrational.) A big part of me not liking to close my eyes in the shower is due to horror films. I don't like not knowing what's around me in general. This is also why I hate going to sleep and end up staying up at all hours of the night. Panic will sometimes set in when I'm about to go to sleep, sadly.

 

[LovelyLiz]

Lexie - a few general bits of advice on dealing with anxiety:


I find it helps me to remind myself when my anxiety is irrational, so my main issue is to reduce my anxiety levels.


Things like meditation, soaks in the bath, incense, walks help me to relax - they have a physical effect on my body.


Don't beat yourself up for suffering from anxiety. I have friends who have various diseases or conditions to manage, dietary requirements, etc. Anxiety is no different to that, really.


It's useful to have friends or family who you can talk to about these things, who'll be understanding of the patterns your mind operates in.


I find it helpful to reclassify myself in my own head from 'crazy' to 'quirky'. Just think about how interesting we are!


Those are non-specific things, but things that I've discovered help me lower my anxiety in general. xx

 

[Sue]

I very rarely shower when I am alone for that reason. When I am in the shower I always hear sounds. I have to make sure all my doors are locked just in case. I usually take a bath if I am alone so that I can hear if anybody is around. I know it is ridiculous to think that way but it could be from all those shower scene in the horror movies.

 

[kelden]

Seems like a natural response, albeit a bit paranoid, closing your eyes while washing the soap off your face is certainly a state of vulnerability. You don't want to give any chances something awful happens when you're vision deprived, therefore you take measures to avoid those scenarios. I don't want to think there's a possibility a sudden natural disaster happens while I am at the shower, the odds are very remote, but the mere thought is dreadful.

 

[sidney]

Er, you made sure you locked the bathroom before taking a bath, right? So there's no need to be paranoid about it. I guess those horror and slasher movies are to blame for your anxiety. I think that as long as you have the door locked, you have nothing to worry about. I myself sleep in the bathroom during those days where I had to wake up very early to leave the house, lol.

 

[Mike13579]

I sometimes get that creeping feeling when I'm vulnerable while washing my hair. I find it really helpful to whisper "I locked the door, I locked the door" to myself until I either feel comfortable or I can see again. When I was younger, I used to bring my dog into the bathroom while I showered so that she would lie down by the door and "guard" me. It's a silly fear to have, I'll admit, but it sometimes can't be helped. I probably shouldn't have watched Psycho when I was a kid

 

[Panic57]

I always lock my door because I don't want anyone coming into my bathroom while I'm defenseless. What i fear is that I'll slip and fall and they will have to break down the door to help me. So I worry that I'll drown or die before they get to me. Otherwise, my bathroom is the one of the two rooms in my apartment that actually has a lock on it. But i get that worry, it's so easy to get into someone's house now in days and there are actually videos to show how to do in online.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

Yes. I have had this feeling a couple of times in my life but it's been a while since this thought crossed my mind. And it could maybe be related to horror movies? Because, you know, psycho. But not really when it comes to me... I think that it's more related with the fear to be attached because after sleeping, being in the shower it's one of the scenarios when we are more vulnerable, and add the creepy things that we see all the time to this feeling and we and up feeling anxious while showering, that's why I like to put some music while doing it, it distracts me.

 

[Dylan]

I used to have this problem early on in life, probably until I was about 12. I used to either avoid washing my hair or sting my eyes trying to see outside the curtain. One thing that helped me was to start washing my hair first thing when I hop in the shower, this sort of gets it out of the way and the build up doesn't make the anxiety too bad. I do think that this is a pretty common fear, you're naked in the shower and that makes you feel very vulnerable. The movie Psycho forever cemented that into the minds of people, so more people probably have this problem than you think.

 

[Alex]

I don't take showers only baths, and if I have to, I never stand under the shower directly. For me it's a lack of control of where the water will go, and I hate water in my eyes or knowing if it was be hot or cold (temperature can change) but I have had this since I was a child and in my case it relates to a past life phobia (if you believe in such things).


I still feel anxious at the hairdressers when water trickles across my face by accident, but I cope and make a point of wiping straight away. Maybe this is from movies, but if the door is locked you have know you have nothing to fear. Worst case scenario, wash the hair in the sink and use a jug to rinse as I do!

 

[hades_leae]

I don't struggle with closing my eyes at all, but I do turn off the water many times when I'm taking showers because I swear I be hearing things moving around in my apartment, but I don't know what they are.


I think it's because of the noise from the water, and maybe the air conditioner turning on and off or something. I don't panic like some do, but I don't worry about closing my eyes either, as it doesn't take me long to wash out my hair, plus now I keep a dry towel inside the shower so I can wipe the soap off my face as soon as it hits it.


I don't have shower anxiety I think.

 

[djordjem87]

That is partly paranoia and I have experienced this. I live in a house in a messed up neighbourhood but I have no problems with anyone. I am not that good of a guy myself so we know each other and respect each other. From that part I got nothing to worry but when I am all alone in the house no matter how many times I lock all the doors and check everything in the house when I am taking my shower I am not at ease. I leave the doors open for some reason although my logic part of the brain says it is basically pointless what I am doing I still cannot have a normal stress free shower. I am not afraid of something I just cannot relax, I hear stuff in the house, the floor is cracking and the closets are making noises. It is in my head I believe, either way it is not easy to cope with things you cannot influence really.

 

[thecorinthian]

Well, your description was pretty scary. I guess I've thought about when I'm in a new shower or bathing in the river or something that's the only time I do freak out because-- strangers, you know? Being in a new place is a real fear for me but when I'm just showering alone in my house then stinging shampoo doesn't really bother me.

 

[katelynwiersma]

Oh, my! I've never had anxiety like that, but it actually does sound terrifying. We all have strange fears, so you're not alone. Could you try showering with the curtain open?

 

[SirJoe]

It's understandable that you would feel this way, after all we are at our most vulnerable then. I think that if you lock your bathroom door it might give you a little bit more comfort, after all if anyone wants to do you any harm they have to get through the door first and even if you don't see them you most certainly will hear them.

 

[Ashley0323]

I dont close my eyes during my shower, even when I am washing my hair, I do not get anxiety. In fact, I think taking a hot shower after a long day HELPS my anxiety, I tend to calm down and relax for the night. Taking showers is my "happy place" when needed.