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

Do you use music or other things as a distractions while in public?

  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
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I do like music to drown out fear. But, what "they" don't know is that I am really still keeping an eye on everything that is going on around me.

Soooo, if someone thinks they can pull a fast move on me, WELL, are they going to be quite surprised when they get a Kung-Fu kick to the head if they try anything!!!!! :smug: But, for real. I am being serious.:watching:
 
I answered yes, but I do not use headphones in public because I want to be aware of the things going on around me. However, I do carry an Apache tear (gemstone) in my hand to help me feel grounded and for some reason this makes me feel safe. I have done this for many many years and the idea of leaving home without it is not a pleasurable one. It seems like such a small thing and I am not sure why it is so helpful to me, but it really assists me to stay focused somehow.
 
With a couple test runs I usually find myself making phone calls and making sure I can get someone on the phone for the entire duration of my store trip. I haven't tried music as I don't like the idea of not being able to hear what is going on around me. I feel the phone keeps one ear free.
 
Music sometimes is all that keeps me from losing it in public. I am very hyper-vigilant but some days I HAVE to block out all the stimulation and just deal with the fall out. Most days, while grocery shopping and such, I will just wear one earphone so that I have the best of both worlds. It cuts down on the external stimulation but still allows me to hear what is going on around me.
 
Yes, I use music when I'm alone in public to keep myself calm and grounded. I don't mind being in a busy store or things like that, but I think working in those environments has helped a lot. What I don't like it being out in less-crowded public places, like walking between destinations or hanging out in a park. I also really don't mind crowds of students at university (except when I'm in a rush to get to class), but I hate being on campus at odd times when the hallways are almost empty, but not completely deserted.
 
I have a very turbulent relationship with the use of noise distraction in public, for the same reasons others have identified. Sometimes I need the predictable safe distraction of music to lessen my intense hypervigilance and to give myself something safe to concentrate on, but usually only when I am stationary and somewhere I have concluded to be moderately safe, such as sitting on a train for a period of time. When I am actually moving around and interacting with the environment I find it unbearable to be distracted in such a way and can quickly become overwhelmed by too much sensory input.

And I also often use the silent music trick to keep people from talking to me as well, leaving my earphones on but the music switched off. Fiddling with my phone is also sometimes a decent compromise, as it creates a distraction without the intensity of noise that music creates.

Maddog
 
I go everywhere with my earphones in. I'm pretty avoidant and I just like to escape, and since I LOVE music, drowning out the world with earphones is the best way to escape for me! :p
 
No---it would open me up to being startled as I'd be less aware of those around me.
 
Yes, to zone out from all the noises and movement around me, but also to calm myself down. Listening to the right music can really soothe my anxiety.
 
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