People in public...

Do you guys have trouble going out in public or to crowded places where it can be unpredictable? Do you ever feel unsafe? What do you do to handle this?



I ask because lately that's the aspect of my SA I've struggled the most with. I get nervous in crowds or at restaurants (whether alone or with others) - that feeling that someone is staring at you or listening in. It doesn't help that it's happened before (we were in a writing group and some guy came over and started heckling us once he figured out what we were doing). I also get nervous walking or taking the public bus - I moved to this town hoping to be able to walk most places but the area we live in has seen a spike in crime and it's hard not to feel nervous when random people follow you or call to you. I feel like the bad experiences have caused me to be too anxious, which probably just makes things worse. I talk in a very low voice in restaurants and keep to myself whenever I go out (unless I know the clerk or the other person) and I'm probably missing out on some great opportunities. And I've stopped taking the one bus because of the atmosphere.



Does anyone else experience anything similar? How have you coped?





via Social Anxiety Forum http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f26/people-in-public-367457/

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