Quote Originally Posted by JulieC View Post
I've not ventured out in public very much at all, and only had to really contend with this problem once when I could not find a single person bathroom.
Julie, I well understand. Until this past January, I had only gone out en femme on Halloween and the day or two preceding it. I was thankful that Target almost always has a private, family restroom and relied on that. The one time I did use the ladies' room, it seemed empty, but while I was in my stall, a few women entered - and I went into full panic mode. I washed and dried my hands as fast as I could and left without looking anyone in the eye.

In the past four months, though, I have gone out more than a dozen times, sometimes for up to half the day. Although I have used the ladies' room at least five times, I always feel that fear when I enter. I no longer panic when other women are in there, but I still don't make eye contact with anyone. Each time though is another success, and someday - maybe by next year - I'll be able to feel relaxed as I go in.

Meanwhile, the first time I used the ladies' fitting room, my reaction was nowhere near as extreme, and now I will use them with no hesitation.