Anxiety taking over

Hey @BlueBay. Sorry to hear you're experiencing this. I'm thinking this is new for you?

I feel very anxious when I venture out of my (very small) comfort zone. I don't like big or busy places at all (what I consider big and busy seems to be not big or busy for many others). I feel like I'm always on the look out and like something bad will happen. I find myself very sensitive to noises, people being too close to me, unpredictable fast stuff happening everywhere... It makes it very hard.

I'm sitting at a bus stop at the moment about to head somewhere very busy to catch a couple of trains to take me way out of the comfort zone. It's taken me hours to psych myself up enough to even be sitting here.

I find it helpful to try and tune in to what's happening inside me rather than outside. To feel my feet on the ground, my legs on a chair etc. It might sound a bit cheesy but I also try and look at this stuff with curiosity. Like "isn't it interesting that might feet are tapping" rather than "omg I am shaking a lot". Simple things that help are headphones and music to focus on and I often chew mints or gum, perhaps as a way of getting out some nervous energy. Recognition of the little steps too helps I guess. Just sitting here at the bus stop preparing to go in is something I recognise as an achievement for me.

Not sure if any of that helps, but you're not alone. Talking to your GP and/or psychologist sounds like a great idea. There are things you can practice and put in place to help ❤