Do you feel anxious in a crowd? What advice can you give others about how to manage?

Lauren Marsh — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 09:47:48 -0400

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Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 9:49 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 09:49:53 -0400

AB-S0-LUTE-LY!!!!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 10:04 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:04:11 -0400

My Neurologist wrote in my VA Notes, that "Veteran has a Severe case of Social Phobia." Another: "Veteran's social phobia is hard to watch." Oh and I need to update My Patients like Me site. Lauren Marsh

Response by PO2 Kristy Williams made Oct 25 at 2016 10:05 AM

PO2 Kristy Williams — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:05:27 -0400

Deep breaths. I hate crowds. I openly avoid anyplace that may be crowded.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Oct 25 at 2016 10:15 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:15:44 -0400

Lauren Marsh Yes,i just avoid them as much as possible.Reminds me of a bunch of maggots in a rotting corpse.Maggots rushing around for no good reason.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Oct 25 at 2016 10:25 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:25:13 -0400

Don't go... it's allowed.

Response by SPC Britanny Winnie Balthaser made Oct 25 at 2016 10:46 AM

SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:46:20 -0400

Lauren Marsh Not personally, but my husband and other friends do. I don't blame them. I get more stressed travelling than crowds.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 3:37 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:37:23 -0400

Certain crowds bother me. For example, when the grocery store is crowded, I get anxious and angry. When I'm at a County or State Fair and it's uber crowded, I get anxious and paranoid. Best thing my wife and I do is...either go early before the crowds hit or just not stay long.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 4:57 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:57:37 -0400

I do as my psych doc tells me, I take a rescue med when in this situation one hour prior to going, if your going to go pre treat, rather than taking it at the event, so far it has helped

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 25 at 2016 6:19 PM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 18:19:23 -0400

Stay the Hell away from them...

Response by PO3 Derek "Doc Potter" Wilson made Oct 25 at 2016 8:31 PM

PO3 Derek "Doc Potter" Wilson — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 20:31:19 -0400

Most military personnel ( myself included ) do get nervous in crowds. We are trained to be situationally aware and constantly scan for threats. I still sit with my back to a wall and watch an entrance in public spaces, I know where my exits are and I constantly scan for threatening body language. Much like everything else going on its something you have to find out how to minimize the stress it induces. Whatever that may mean.

You can always avoid the crowd but sometimes it is impossible. In my case I stay vigilant and always carry my pocket knife. Always. Despite knowing it wouldn't do anything against a gun, I find that it imparts a certain feeling of security that helps my anxiety. This is my method, and it definitely isn't best for everyone. In the end, you have to find your own method and in the meantime know that what you are experiencing is normal for our kind.

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Oct 25 at 2016 9:28 PM

Cpl Rc Layne — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:28:27 -0400

I can't stand to be around a lot of people. Never liked it, never will. And I do everything I can to avoid it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2016 4:53 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:53:23 -0400

A couple of sports legends has anxiety disorders. Ricky Williams of the Dolphins and Saints and Jim Eisenreich of the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. Each had severe issues and both made it back. Williams self-medicated with hippie lettuce and to an extent, I support that. Try to live in high anxiety and see how that works out for you. Trauma happens. Lauren Marsh

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Oct 27 at 2016 5:16 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 17:16:58 -0400

I have always been nervous in a crowd. I sit where I can see the exit in a restaurant (my wife and daughter know that and automatically give me that seat). I stand at the back of a crowd by the exit where I can get out. However, when I was in New York City for Thanksgiving one year not too many years back, I didn't feel claustrophobic at all...quite relieving...until I went into a store. However, if possible, I always avoid crowds and am always on the alert. I avoid if I can but my Wife and daughter are social butterflies and they drag me with them (which is where I want to be) but they know my triggers and when it is time to leave. And yes...deep breaths and relaxation techniques that I have developed over the years that no one sees.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jan 3 at 2017 4:22 PM

LTC John Shaw — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:22:55 -0500

Lauren Marsh I am just returning from overseas deployment and can't avoid the feeling of constant threat assessment. I judge where I go and where I take the family based on the physical layout, ability to ingress/egress, ability of likely first responder locations and gut level assessment of the people attending the event and how I can tell if they are out of place.
I will not attend a large event or vacation park area that I can't assess or determine the control points. I will weight my analysis, I attended my son's HS graduation but avoid other events that are smaller due to lack of controls. I am asking my family for time for adjustment, we have been through this a few times before. One day at a time.

Do you feel anxious in a crowd? What advice can you give others about how to manage?

Do you feel anxious in a crowd? What advice can you give others about how to manage?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 9:49 AM

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 10:04 AM

Response by PO2 Kristy Williams made Oct 25 at 2016 10:05 AM

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Oct 25 at 2016 10:15 AM

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Oct 25 at 2016 10:25 AM

Response by SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser made Oct 25 at 2016 10:46 AM

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 3:37 PM

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 4:57 PM

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 25 at 2016 6:19 PM

Response by PO3 Derek "Doc Potter" Wilson made Oct 25 at 2016 8:31 PM

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Oct 25 at 2016 9:28 PM

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2016 4:53 AM

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Oct 27 at 2016 5:16 PM

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jan 3 at 2017 4:22 PM

Response by SPC Britanny Winnie Balthaser made Oct 25 at 2016 10:46 AM