Gen Z Wellness Behaviors: “Bathroom Camping” Coping
“Bathroom camping” is a newly coined term by Gen Z that describes a long-standing behavior of finding solace in a restroom when everything becomes “too much” to handle. Many individuals online as of late have discussed finding a safe hideaway for themselves to cope with feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just generally needing a break. This can occur, not only in public restroom stalls, but also in private restrooms at home. Myself and my colleagues at Behavioral Health Clinic (BHC) have heard of this style of coping and worked to address it in therapy. Many older adults have expressed extreme discomfort with the concept of “bathroom camping” and consider it to be a normal part of adulthood. People criticize this behavior as being unproductive or taking up space from people who need to use the bathroom for its “intended” purpose. Some folks have shown their irritation online as another way to resent Gen Z for being “fragile” or “snowflakes,” but is that really all the...