This article (or at least the first half of it which was relevant) appeared in the London Evening Standard newspaper on March 26th 2019 (Page 15).
Too scared to use an electric loo- that’s just one embarrassment of living with claustrophobia
by Laura Weir
So there I was, standing nervously outside and electric loo on the Eurostar to Paris about to pee my pants. I was so desperate that I could have cried.
Men, I know you can’t relate to this problem and would just whip it out and pop it in a cup should the need become pressing, but women, I know you feel my pain.
So why couldn’t I go? It was because I was paralysed with fear of entering the toilet, willingly pressing the button locking the door and spending a penny, so bad has my claustraphobia become. I was not alone in this experience. My friend Sarah had come down from coach 10 to help persuade me in (we were on a fashion press trip- and things had taken a decidedly unglamourous turn).
Two Eurostar guards were also there, one male and French, the other female and British. Both encouraged me to enter, saying everything would be fine and pas de probleme– that they had a master key should the electric door fail and I got locked in (I’m sure there’s a Brexit analogy in there somewhere).
You see, like any good phobic, there is at least some logic underpinning my fear. Lockable loos? Fine. Electric doors? Nope. Absolutely not, not without a European cheering squad on hand to rescue me.
I managed to go in the end, after making my three pee supporters swear that they wouldn’t leave until I exited alive. Despite feeling exhilarated after overcoming my fear, I was so embarrassed- what a palaver. that was the first time I’d ever used a loo with electric doors.