Claustrophobia: There’s No Need To Fear Escape Rooms

Claustrophobia is a fear of confined spaces that affects many people in different ways. For some people it may manifest itself as a fear of public transport (such as small train carriages), for other people it may be a fear of small rooms or small buildings.

If you suffer with Claustrophobia, you might be nervous about trying an escape room. The prospect can be quite daunting, especially if you’re not fully clued-up on what the experience is like, and what to expect from the day. Claustrophobia may even be something that is stopping you from enjoying a fun day out with your friends.

Here at Omescape, we believe our escape rooms are Claustrophobia-friendly, and they can still be enjoyed by people suffering from Claustrophobia. Let us talk you through why…

Our rooms have reasonable ceiling heights

We know that feeling cramped or too enclosed can be one of the biggest anxiety triggers for people with Claustrophobia. Luckily, our rooms aren’t tiny, and our ceiling heights are also a good height, which can help put your mind at ease even more.

We can leave the door open

If you suffer from a fear of being locked inside, don’t worry. We can leave the door open for you – it’s absolutely fine. All you need to do is chat to the team member on duty that day and explain that you have Claustrophobia, and they’ll be happy to adjust the rules slightly, and keep the door open. Escape rooms aren’t actually about being trapped in a room, it’s about solving a series of clues under time pressure – so having the door open doesn’t take away much enjoyment at all!

You can leave whenever you like

If your happy to have the door closed, but you’d still like to have the option to leave – this is completely possible. Your game master will monitor your game too, and if you feel uncomfortable at any point, you can remove yourself back to reality as quickly as turning the door handle.

Some of our experiences are digital / VR

Our VR experiences work great for people with claustrophobia because they act as a distraction from concentrating on the space around you, by transporting you to somewhere completely different. Claustrophobia can be different for different people, but we’ve found our VR games tend to be fine for claustrophobic people, and some of the most enjoyable too.

We know that anxiety and Claustrophobia can be tricky to deal with, even when you’re with a group of friends or family, so our game masters will always be happy to help whenever possible. Just let them know, so they can keep an eye on you throughout your experience.

We’ve actually found through the years, that people with Claustrophobia have felt more confident and less anxious following their escape room experience with us. It’s not a cure, but it is a way of building confidence and building your own tolerance of situations.

Here are a few reasons it’s a great idea to try an escape room if you’re claustrophobic:

It’s a safe space

Escape rooms have been designed to be enjoyable whilst also being functional and safe for a group of people. This means they make a good environment for people with Claustrophobia, as you can relax knowing the room is safe, and you are too.

You’re with friends and people you trust

If you’re trying this new situation for the first time and you’re worried your anxiety might pop up, at least you’ll be with friends or family if you do feel overwhelmed. They will be able to support and help you if you do lose any confidence during the experience.

It’s distracting

It’s hard to think about your Claustrophobia when you have lots of clues and puzzles to work out! Hopefully, you’ll be so distracted by the plot and the game, that you won’t have time to be scared. The more involved you get, hopefully the more distracted you’ll be.

It’s fun

Escape rooms (above all else) are designed to be fun. For people with Claustrophobia, it can really help to associate that thing you’re dreading (enclosed spaces) with a positive and happy memory instead. For many people, this is the key to resetting their phobia and starting fresh with a new outlook.

Remember… You can always chat to us about an escape room experience before visiting, and we’ll be happy to recommend the best options for you if you suffer from Claustrophobia. We’re a friendly team, and we strive to be as flexible and understanding as possible, which means we’re always ready to help.

We hope to see you soon at Omescape, or we hope to hear from you soon!