Poll Do You Use Music Or Other Things As A Distractions While In Public?

[Invisible-Guy]

Does anybody else have such a hard time being in public that they need to where headphones to drown out people talking or loud background noises? Right now one of my goals in to be able to spend 30 minutes in a store without leaving. The flip side id that you have to watch your back a little more, but it seems to help.

 

[Phenioxrising]

Yes, it seems the more information overload at once, seems to overload my mind.
Especially if there are too many people talking all at once, Makes me feel crazy and I have to stop them.

 

[Ayasha]

I try starting out by not using music or distractions but that often ends in me feeling really overwhelmed.

 

[NarcSis]

Great start just remember the goal is eventually to be able to tolerate the stress on your own. Can you picture the day when you leave the headphones behind? It happens, patience, practice, belief and strength.

I still have movies with me on my iPod but I don't often need them anymore. Keep up the good work!

 

[Chincho]

I don't use music or other distractions because they interfere with my hyper-vigilance.

 

[catjudo]

There are definitely times when I have a difficult time being in public...depending on how I'm doing that day, what store it is, how crowded or how much noise there is. However, wearing headphones or ear buds would only make things worse. I wouldn't feel like I was aware of everything going on around me and that would make the experience even more frightening and difficult.

 

[Phenioxrising]

I think the distraction would make us more aware that most people arn't out to hurt us. They only hurt us if we let them. Of course exposure, exposure, exposure. LOL

 

[Invisible-Guy]

Thanks, yeah right now I use them most of the time, or I have to hide somewhere where I can plug my ears if it's too overwhelming. Crowds or even just being out of the house is pretty tough right now. I don't even do my photography anymore.

 

[Phenioxrising]

I find that slowly getting yourself out their helps as well. Even if its for just an hour or two at a time. Then slowly increase the amount of time, out of the house.

 

[ericaboo]

I don't like the fact that wearing headphones makes people think I'm unaware of my surroundings, and therefore a potential target.

However, I just use a lot of eye contact, and having the "white noise" that I am in control of helps me a lot. I can turn it up, down or off depending on how I'm feeling or whether I need to hear what someone is saying.

For me, it actually drowns out distractions and helps me stay on task.

Another thing I'll do is wear headphones with NO music just to keep people from striking up conversations if I'm feeling socially phobic or easily triggered.

 

[aka]

Oh yeah I use music all the time as a distraction when walking around campus. It allows me not to be so paranoid. Not to say I am not hyper valiant I am always looking around for something or someone that does not belong. I just seems that blocking one sense helps me not become so overwhelmed by all the others.

However, I just use a lot of eye contact,

Wish I could do that, I am always look down and avoiding eye contact. I get really nervous when I have to pass a person going the other direction because I don't want to make eye contact. Not really sure why I am this way but I do know it is instinctual so I guessing it was a survival mechanism I learned.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

@Ericaboo "I don't like the fact that wearing headphones makes people think I'm unaware of my surroundings, and therefore a potential target."

Hi Erica, you are right , it does take a little more hypervigilance. Drowning out the voices is very important to me or I become agitated and my hypervigilance actually gets worse. I do have to watch my back and my surroundings more, but it still provides some relief.