How do you survive crowds of people?

[roopzie]

When I walk through the high street or crowded area by myself i get severely anxious. Im jealous of the chatty, pretty or accepted looking people, and I also feel everyone is looking at me, ready to judge me. My eyes feel tired, my belongings feel heavy, my skin feels warm and prickly, my shoes are heavy also and my hair feels like theres a bug in it! I just want to escape and get everyone from it all! its a horrible experience yet many do not have to face it.

Does anyone else suffer from this sort of thing? and has anyone thought of a solution or help to battle and subdue? People have suggested i avoid these crowds, but I feel I want to fight the problem, not shy away from it- and besides I like my freedom despite this anxiety.

 

[mimi1988]

Like you, I try to avoid large crowds (whenever I'm by myself) at all costs. My daddy claim he used to be the same way, but that now he actually ENJOYS them. Maybe his fear of large crowds were never as severe as mine. IDK. Maybe it's just something that takes time to get used to. When I was younger I had the hardest time initiating conversations with total strangers. But as I've gotten older, it's gotten much easier for me (Of course it came with practice). When I'm in large crowds I not only feel nervous, I start feeling dizzy and my eyes and head will start to hurt! It's not so bad when I'm with other people though.

 

[mikestar]

Basically I think im the only one with anxiety and everyone else is normal,getting on with day to day things without thinking/feeling a thing. I feel panicy,ugly and very awkward and half time I cant cope. Spend alot of time looking at floor

Did it on weekend it was horrible especially when I had to q up and surrounded by loads of people, didnt know what to do with myself literally...then I saw someone glance at me and start laughing that is all it needed...I tried to get out of the place asap

just stick with the small tasks for a bit longer i think

 

[WelshOne]

I hate large crowds. If I have to walk down a busy street I usually keep my eyes down and not look at anyone. I think I do this because if I made eye contact with someone I run the risk that they might stop and talk to me, and Im terrible at making conversation right now (when Im anxious anyway, not so bad when Im relaxed.)

For me its worse if its a crowd where I might know someone or be recognised. I could go and walk around London a lot more easily than my local town, even though London is 100x more busy.

 

[mikestar]

For me its worse if its a crowd where I might know someone or be recognised. I could go and walk around London a lot more easily than my local town, even though London is 100x more busy.

yer I dread it if I see someone I know, even when im sat in the car I just prey they dont come over and see me.

Strangers obv dont know you, so you can pretend and put on an act

 

[mndigi]

I used to be afraid of crowds. I still am but I go into crowds now any way. Staying locked up in my room caused me so much pain that now I crave going out a little bit. Maybe one day you too will get so sick of being alone that you will go out.

Mind you, this didn't happen to me by myself. I compelled myself to go out because my therapist told me to. And after I started to go out, I felt suffocated when I wouldn't!

 

[FOR REAL]

I hate large crowds. If I have to walk down a busy street I usually keep my eyes down and not look at anyone. I think I do this because if I made eye contact with someone I run the risk that they might stop and talk to me, and Im terrible at making conversation right now (when Im anxious anyway, not so bad when Im relaxed.)

For me its worse if its a crowd where I might know someone or be recognised. I could go and walk around London a lot more easily than my local town, even though London is 100x more busy.

i would rather walk the streets of london, than my home town, cause no one knows me in london, and theres loads of nut cases like me!!
i would still rather be up a mountain in the scottish highlands though.
"ULTIMATE FREEDOM"

 

[misterF]

I used to have problems with crowds but not anymore. What helped was I stopped looking at everyone trying to find someone who's laughing at me, I realized that there are so many people that nobody would notice me and what also helps if I'm alone is listening to some music.

 

[Skald]

at the moment I simply keep my head down and listen to my ipod. I tend to skit the sides so I dont have to mingle to much.

 

[Iranianguy]

i hate been near loads of people i feel so nervous sometimes

 

[L Hilla]

I prettu much do ok in large crowds. Like I dont freak out or anything, I just remember to stay calm and reserves the best I can. I stil feel some symptoms like headaches and stiffness, but I remember that not everyone is looking at me. That ans just simply mind my own business, lol.

 

[recluse]

I hate large crowds. If I have to walk down a busy street I usually keep my eyes down and not look at anyone. I think I do this because if I made eye contact with someone I run the risk that they might stop and talk to me, and Im terrible at making conversation right now (when Im anxious anyway, not so bad when Im relaxed.)

For me its worse if its a crowd where I might know someone or be recognised. I could go and walk around London a lot more easily than my local town, even though London is 100x more busy.

I'm the same, i can walk in a city abroad with no bother but in my local area i feel anxious because it's so close knit and everyone knows each other.

 

[jeds4kids]

When I walk through the high street or crowded area by myself i get severely anxious. Im jealous of the chatty, pretty or accepted looking people, and I also feel everyone is looking at me, ready to judge me. My eyes feel tired, my belongings feel heavy, my skin feels warm and prickly, my shoes are heavy also and my hair feels like theres a bug in it! I just want to escape and get everyone from it all! its a horrible experience yet many do not have to face it.

Does anyone else suffer from this sort of thing? and has anyone thought of a solution or help to battle and subdue? People have suggested i avoid these crowds, but I feel I want to fight the problem, not shy away from it- and besides I like my freedom despite this anxiety.[/You are on the right track. My story is very similar, avoidance is not an option. If you're interested you can listen to or read my story called 'Sixteen Years In Hell' at http://www.crazimaze.com]

 

[Kinetik]

I try to make sure I'm always with someone I know - that way I can talk relatively freely and concentrate on them to take the pressure off myself. If that's not possible I will often self-medicate beforehand with alcohol and/or benzos. Even so, people inevitably look at me because I'm very tall and I stick out everywhere. It's no fun being a giraffe.

 

[Noca]

I try to make sure I'm always with someone I know - that way I can talk relatively freely and concentrate on them to take the pressure off myself. If that's not possible I will often self-medicate beforehand with alcohol and/or benzos. Even so, people inevitably look at me because I'm very tall and I stick out everywhere. It's no fun being a giraffe.

benzos ftw

 

[Remus]

I tolerate it as much as possible, if the crowds get too much then I go via back alleyways

 

[Rodox]

Well I only know how to mask,what helps me is wearing a cap and sunglasses,when I am not wearing them I just try to look straight ahead and try to not think about other people.

 

[Skatergirl]

Well it's hard to survive, because it takes alot of guds to survive it.
Mostly i avoid them, but this weekend i went to a zoo, and it was really full of people there, but i have survived it.. ::
But it feels like everybodies looking at me, can't explain the feeling..
it's really driving me nervous

 

[PhantomPod]

I've found that wearing sunglasses actually helps me calm down when I'm walking outside in large crowds. So long as I don't have the chance of catching anyones eye I'm okay.