Why Is Camping Out in the Bathroom So Damn Cathartic?

The bathroom is not often a place I find solitude. When I have to go, I'm in and out . . . mainly because I don't want to pick up any hemorrhoids or new germs. But lately, people have gotten more vocal about doing the exact opposite: they stay awhile, settle in, and turn their time on the toilet into a relaxing sanctuary.

Otherwise known as "bathroom camping," this is what happens when people stay in the bathroom to escape reality. Sometimes, it's a parent escaping their kids for five minutes. Other times, it's an employee taking a mental break at work.

Though I happen to be someone who enjoys my alone time in my car, I can understand the appeal of a bathroom break. A closed door and a few extra minutes to unwind can create the perfect environment to exist without the ping of a Slack notification or a husband asking where his car keys are for the fifth time.

"The bathroom has built-in boundaries," psychotherapist Jessica Hunt says. "You can close the door, lock it, and no one questions your need for privacy. That sense of separation, both physically and symbolically, creates permission to pause." Below, Hunt explains more about why so many people find comfort on the toilet seat.

Experts Featured in This Article

Jessica Hunt, LCSW, is a California-based psychotherapist specializing in anxiety, relationships, identity, and life transitions.

What Is Bathroom Camping, and Why Do So Many People Do It?

Just as the name implies, bathroom camping is what happens when someone hangs out in the bathroom for reasons other than having to go. "Bathroom camping is when someone retreats to the bathroom (and stays in longer than necessary) to enjoy quiet time away from everything else," Hunt adds.

Though there are many reasons why someone may do this, Hunt says a big one is to decompress away from demanding jobs, young kids, or draining social interactions. "It is a socially acceptable way to step out of the noise for a minute, scroll, breathe, or simply exist without demands," she adds.

For some people, there's also something therapeutic about sitting on the toilet. "It gives the nervous system a break - a few minutes of quiet and solitude to help shift someone out of a stress response," Hunt says. "There's also something unique about a space where you are physically vulnerable and exposed, yet the space is wholly your own and privacy is the norm."

For whatever reason you like to bathroom camp, know that it's not necessarily a bad thing. (Just don't ask a doctor about your risk for hemorrhoids if you don't want to stop.) Finding a relaxing space where you can disassociate, take a few breaths, and recenter yourself can be helpful when you're stressed or anxious.

That said, Hunt urges you to look at the bigger picture: "If the bathroom is the only place you feel you can breathe, it may be time to create that same sense of calm and solitude elsewhere in your life." In other words, bathroom camping isn't exactly a problem - it's a signal to prioritize more space and rest. If hiding out on the toilet gives you a moment to reset, that's valid, but ideally, your peace shouldn't depend on a locked door and porcelain seat.