How Crowds Can Bother Us?

[anthony]

Issue #2: Social situations can be very stressful for people with PTSD, as groups or crowds can be threatening and anxiety provoking.

What I would like to know and maybe you can help me understand is how groups or crowds can be threatening for people with PTSD and stressful for us? I do find it very stressful but can't figure why until I saw this. Now I would like to bring it up for discussion. Anyone can help?

Nothing with PTSD is applicable across every person, hence why everyone suffers quite uniquely and individually. Military for example, will be a large group who will suffer in crowds, often because many who have been on active service, bad things often happen in crowds, ie. a grenade is thrown, knives, hand to hand combat, pistols... all sorts of sneaky things come out against a soldier in third world countries within crowds.

If you have visited a third world country, then you would understand how they function in crowds or make a crowd very quickly when someone or something new is within their community, because they have little or haven't seen something before, so they are attracted to it / them. Bad people often make what they can against military forces when crowds suddenly popup. Markets... etc... often all bad experiences. Very hard to control things from a military viewpoint within a crowd.

Doesn't apply to someone with PTSD who may of been raped in their home, etc. They will develop different fears, which would be on the list, but not applicable to say a solider with PTSD, or someone from an MVA, etc.

 

[blueangel371115]

I hate crowds, I feel trapped. Or long lines. I feel as if I can't escape should I need it. My mind is always looking for an escape route.

 

[livergirl70]

I agree with Nora, when you are being hypervigilant, it is exhausting to constantly be scanning crowds. People can approach you from any angle and you don't feel in control. I can now manage supermarkets and large stores, but cannot go in the town centre because there are too many ways to be approached, at least in the big shops you are safe from the side because of the aisles.

 

[Jestadud]

What I do because I know I am over alert is turn my back on the room, then watch the reactions of the people I am sitting with, this is like getting a second opinion before your senses go overboard.

The funniest thing was some guys I used to drink with saying to me, you should sit with your back to the wall so you can see what is going on, yet they sat with their backs to the window and had no idea what was happening outside or who was coming in, they could have been shot through that window for all they knew. Some people have read too many cowboy books.

 

[jewel]

For me, people means socializing and that is something I am not comfortable with. I don't k ow about all of you but somehow I lost my words. I have a difficult time making my sentences and I end up saying it sounds like or I motion it out and I feel dumb when I am in conversation. Crowds for me are also overwhelming because there is just too much going on, too much stimulation.

 

[blueangel371115]

For me, people means socializing and that is something I am not comfortable with. I don't k ow about all of you but somehow I lost my words. I have a difficult time making my sentences and I end up saying it sounds like or I motion it out and I feel dumb when I am in conversation. Crowds for me are also overwhelming because there is just too much going on, too much stimulation.

me too. I feel stupid or at least that the person thinks I'm stupid but is being polite. Or that they are lying to me. I feel that everyone is after me or will hurt me.

 

[shadowchaser]

I can't breath in a crowd. Combination of my past and anxiety. To many people to try to keep an eye on. To much noise to get in the way of hearing and way to many people who touch you to get your attention.

 

[jewel]

BlueAngel...I feel stupid too when I can't gather my thoughts or find the right words. Then I always feel a need to explain that I have PTSD and hat that means and I get uh huh's and oh reallys? Like I am making up some excuse or something for my loss of vocabulary. When I get angry with people I usually say "may you experience my worst day for just one day and learn some compassion!" Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had understanding and compassion?

 

[Srain]

I don't usually have as much trouble with thick crowds if I only have to look after myself. Like when I was overseas or South, as long as I was just having to take care of me, which seemed never to be the case when I was younger, then it would have been so much easier. However, having to keep watch over someone else and their well-being took up so much more energy. In a large city, in large crowds, I am fairly well in my element, especially at night. It's daytime the noise all seems so much more encapulated for some reason.

My husband has always struggled with a stutter and so when he is pushing me to get out and do the socializing thing I really have to step back and realize that when I can't find any words at least he can find a few to get out there so maybe between the two of us we'll manage a full sentence somewhere a long the line ;).

 

[Teddy]

I simply don't cope in a crowd. My brain seems to stop all together. It is like all the noise, (people chatting, chairs scraping etc), comes into my brain all at the same level. I just can't seem to filter out the unnecesary noise. I panic that I am going to be hurt unexpectedly. I have to sit with my back to a solid wall in a restaurant so I can see anything that my be coming my way. I don't stay in the restaurant if I can't. I hate aeroplanes because I worry that the person behind me is going to hit me over the head. Sometimes I freeze and can't talk and other times I can't move at all. Depends on what kind of day I am having.
I guess the hypervigilance is just too exhausting. I never go shopping unless I have to and then I shop so I don't have to go back in a hurry.
I like dinner parties that only have one other couple. Any more than that and I can't make sure every one is having a good time and I worry about who I should be talking to next and have I spoken to every one.
Now I just avoid them as I don't seem to be able to work out how to cope at all.....

 

[livergirl70]

I find it really difficult going out to socialise, which is really frustrating cos I used to love going out to a good party or club, even just going for a meal gives me palpitations. I went out for a xmas meal with some friends and thought I was going to throw up in the car park before I went in. Must have smoked about 5 cigarettes before I managed to go in

 

[blueangel371115]

BlueAngel...I feel stupid too when I can't gather my thoughts or find the right words. Then I always feel a need to explain that I have PTSD and hat that means and I get uh huh's and oh reallys? Like I am making up some excuse or something for my loss of vocabulary. When I get angry with people I usually say "may you experience my worst day for just one day and learn some compassion!" Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had understanding and compassion?

I can relate there too. My folks do that. However, family gatherings aren't as bad for me.