Teen Anxiety Support Group
The Teen Anxiety community is focused on teens who are suffering from or concerned about anxiety. Teenagers commonly experience many different forms of stress as they continually face new situations. The purpose of the community is to help facilitate teens communication, and in the process share ideas, and develop the knowledge, tools and techniques that may effectively...
hi. im new to the group, and i have really really bad anxiety in crowded places. i get it at other times too and i guess im a generally anxious person, but crowds are just the worst for me. i go to a pretty small school so its not too bad there, but especially times like now when its summer and everyone is outside i just panic. sometimes i sit in the car by myself when we go places if it looks like theres too many people there so i miss out on fun stuff. i hate it and i dont know what to do. sorry for ranting.
I'm an incoming senior, and I go to a 3A school with about 1,600 students. I am not as bad in crowds that the high school bothers me, although busy hallways can be overstimulating. For me, things like concerts and events really get me. When I start to feel really anxious I get sweaty hands, and the worst part for me is the feeling of lightheadedness and just pure fear. So I get it.
What I would recommend for tight or crowded spaces, is first and foremost try your best to (especially when you are first getting over this) be around friends or family who are close to you so you know you will be helped. I always feel better when I feel super anxious but I'm like "okay my best friend is right here so if I ever did faint she would get me out of here". I also recommend having cold water with you in crowds at all times, and one of those mist/fan things if it is really hot (these are especially good for music festivals or concerts).
It also helps me a lot to use positive self talk, either in my head or even out loud if I am alone. Telling myself "I've been through this countless times and do I ever faint? No. So why would it be any different now?" Things like that have really helped me, Also, DO NOT be afraid to get out of there if you feel too afraid. Because baby steps are alright! When I went to my first festival, I went into the big crowd, stayed there for a few minutes but then retreated to the back where I had more breathing room, I felt better. Still after that I started staying longer, even for whole sets in the middle of the crowds just moving with everyone and sticking with my friends. Once you get into something that you enjoy, that you are enjoying with every one else, you start to forget your anxiety.
Grabbing something that you hold calming value to you also helps. For me, it's my cross necklace. If you are also Christian or wonder about it at all, you can always ask me about it.
Sorry I wrote you an essay, but I feel you. I hope this helps and hit me back anytime!
Cam
i so often end up squeezing my mum or dads hand if we go into a crowd. even what most people would probably think is a fairly light crowd, and having them or a best friend around does help a little bit.
cold water isnt something i've tried but i definitely will and see if it helps, thank you for the suggestion. i guess i need to push myself more too, like you did with going into the festival crowds.
thanks again for replying it made my day :)
have you tried putting on headphones and listening to music or something that gets your mind focus while your outside or doing stuff around other people..
if not you should try doing that it may take sometime but all you have to do is put all your senses into the music or whatever your listening to.