How can I hide? Going incognito

[October]

Hi I'm an agoraphobic and social phobic. The severity of my agoraphobia varies.

I really want to try to push my boundaries a bit. I want to find ways that make the things that are hard for me easier.

I live in a small town and it's hard to anonymous here. I just want to do things alone and not be bothered or stared at or feel uncomfortable.

Something that has helped me TREMENDOUSLY is having sunglasses on me at all times. I used to feel very self conscious in them but now I feel sort of invisible with them on.

I know it's not healthy, but it's the reality, I need to be able to hide when I'm in public. How can I blend in and be invisible?


:?

 

[GKJB]

Thing is, you probably do blend in and are invisible to most people, unless you wear your sunglasses on a cloudy day or something. I think in the same way as you though. My agorophobia also varies, usually depending on how I think I look. If I think I look good, I can leave the house but still do my nervous twitchy things while I'm in public. If I think there's something wrong with how I look (hair not perfect, bags under eyes etc.) then I can;t leave, because I'll think everyone's staring and laughing at me.

Do you find that when you're walking around with other people, you don't feel anxious? That's usually how I am, I feel fine as long as I'm walking around with someone. In fact I usually feel quite good and confident, but on my own I'm jittery, anxious and nervous. Its weird

 

[Helyna]

Act like you think you're normal and you will appear normal.
Easier said than done. But the only thing (unless, as the previous poster said, you're doing something really weird) that will make you look strange is awkwardness out of fear.