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Strangely I have huge problems being around people in public, but thrive when it's busy at work. I think talking to people about bikes (my major passion) must calm everything down

I TOTALLY have that problem. I'm usually better around a bunch of people if I have one person to "approach the crowd" with. I've tried breathing exercises and so forth and they only help minimally. As for walking into a crowd of people where I know NOBODY, I just try to find the "corner" of the crowd and handle talking to only one or two people at a time. I also look for loners to latch on to!

no im sorry i dont get anxiety - but im bumping this so ppl take notice xx

I used to be like that quite a lot, a bit like a mild form of social phobia I guess. I used to work myself up into a tizzy, and then just come across as antisocial when I was just nervous. Then I figured that I was just causing myself undue stress - I acted confident and ppl bought it. Yes it was hard, but it became a habit I suppose - it all seems like a lifetime ago now

Alcohol usually works for me, sorry it's not a very healthy suggestion but thats all I've got.sorry.x

I stay homeused to drink to have the courage to go.

i wouldnt call it major anxiety any more. but i do feel really uncomfortable in a crowd of people that i dont know. i will cower in a corner and watch and listen. get a feel for who people are before i talk. and yes, sometimes my shyness is considered as being stuck up or something. FORGET about getting up infront of a crowd and speaking, even if its my own family!

I get this and usually avoid it if possible, my way of coping is to have my boyfriend with me at all times and I take a couple of valium before I leave the house, even to go shopping, I can't say what it's like to go into a social situation alone but some of the advice so far, like stick to the corner until you find another person like you, there is bound to be one!

Corners never work for me, I always feel trapped and start to panic

it depends... on bad days, I just don't go, can't make myself leave the house... if I can make myself go, how I handle it depends on the event and what I can get away with... generally it's just PRETENDING it's all okay, like I am totally at ease no matter where I go.

I find dressing for the event helps a lot... I am too big to fade into the woodwork and blend into a crowd, people notice me and remember me if I want them to or not... so I dress to the nines appropriately for the occassion. If I'm going somewhere I can dress a little funky, all the better.

If it is a huge outdoor crowd event, like something downtown on the square or in the park, talking thousands of people all around... I take my good camera and pretend to be a professional photographer. One time, my sister took a notebook like a reporter and went with me. Goofy as all hell, but its fun. Sounds bizarre since I can't deal with crowds, but with my camera, I'm just PLAYING and I can go anywhere.

Just ACT like you belong anywhere you want to go.

no, i like being around ppl

I do, but it is much better. I am told that I always seem so upbeat, happy, but I am scared to death most of the time

therapy, self help books, people who understand, and believe it or not a speech class I took, really really helped

I have my meds, I practice all the time...sometimes I pretend I am the person I want to be, and eventually I morph into that gal

hope some of this helped..I know how it feels

I havent always been this way that is what is so frustrationg.

do you know what happened?