Going Out In Public

[depressedjenn]

Anyone get anxiety from being out in public? Does your heart race fast? If I'm in a crowded mall I have to leave right away...I start getting hot and can't breathe and my heart feels like its racing. Is this part of ptsd?

 

[Sandstone]

I think it must be part of PTSD. I experience the same thing. It takes longer to come on if I'm with my husband - I can usually manage two or three shops, but then I feel light headed, wobbly and out of it.

I occasionally try a shop by myself to see if I can do it, and then I feel more like the panic you experience.

So now I'm focussing on the things I can do rather than reinforcing failure. For some time I've been able to go out for a walk in the country with my husband and the dog, so I'm adding in taking the dog out by myself. Yesterday I managed to laugh at something he did. ( Although right now I'm on here to avoid going out).

Of course, that approach only works for me because H will do the food shopping. And I don't know if it's the right approach, as I'm still waiting for a T, so I'm making up my own management.

 

[Anna]

I get really annoyed with the sardine mentality. Everyone squashed together in massive crowds. Online shopping is great. I hate shopping. Only go food shopping. I have discovered Thursday evenings is a good time to go. Stock is full, and the shop is almost empty.

I am ok in crowds. I have the tunnel vision horses with blinkers. It helps. Don't look at anyone! I don't get anxious but it gets me angry and annoyed. Especially the annoying flyer people trying to sell you stuff you don't want.

 

[depressedjenn]

Thanks for replying yall. I just thought I was wierd being this way. When I go out in public I look straight ahead and dont talk to anyone, If I do look at someone I get really nervous. My fiance knows everyone and he talks to everyone lol...that makes me get jittery just standing there lol.

 

[scattered]

I seem to avoid a lot of things ..anything that has to do with the people and the location where the incident took place. Things I used to do I I feel afraid of and something grips my chest and my stomache and I freeze. Certain sounds put me right back there.

I do not feel safe when I go out in public. I have been in a cave for a year and a half because of this. My friends come and get me and take me to eat sometimes. I can't let them in I am such a mess. At home I try to function, but sometimes I have to lay down on my bed until my heart slows down. I just lay there for hours and I am not able to get anything done...and I really can't explain this, it is very embarrassing to me to be like this.

I hate being like this.