Is Going Out In Public Stressful? (Here's What To Do)

According to a recent survey in early May, 64% of people in Ontario reported that it was stressful to go out in public.

And with the economy beginning to reopen in Ontario and restrictions continuing to loosen in the coming weeks, feelings of stress and anxiety are likely to rise.

RESOURCES & LINKS:
____________________________________________

____________________________________________

First, you want to have a plan before you go out.

Create an anxiety hierarchy and start by visiting the places that cause the least amount of anxiety before attempting to visit places that produce higher levels of anxiety.

Second, make sure that both your mind and body are calm before you go out in public.

Your anxiety level is bound to rise when you go out, so you don't want it to be too high before you start.

Third, slow down in public. You've already done a safety assessment, so now the goal is to associate being calm and relaxed with being out in public once again.

Fourth, use mindful walking. This will help you stay in the present moment, promote calm feelings, and help you avoid engaging with anxious thoughts.

Number five, engage in acts of kindness. A smile, a quick "hello," and a compliment not only helps other people feel good but also lower your feelings of anxiety.

And lastly, socialize in public. Whether you know the person or not, socializing helps to lower anxiety and creates a greater sense of normalcy everyone.

#Stress #COVID19 #MentalHealth

[ayyotube]

Talking to people..I can talk to one person but if there more people in the room or around me or I know they can hear me I don't like to talk because I feel like they judging how I sound or judge the why I look

[Pobsta-dehb]

It is literally able to ruin a life, I know it has mine for over 30 years, I had a good spell for a while but nope im pretty bad again. Im an average to good looking perfectly normal guy, I know this and I know no one will look at me and think anything different but it just takes hold, then I panic more about managing that feeling and the anxiety than I do what I am actually doing whether it is walking, yep it can actually cause me to walk funny and almost forget how to, driving is some how better depending on where I am driving and why. Getting a bus alone ? No chance, going to a shopping centre/super market alone? No chance. Then I am angry because anybody I let know about this seems to mistake it for me being scared, I am not scared of anybody and am more thna capable of taking care of myself, it is not fear from people physically. For me this issue started way back in college and I have no idea why, I remember it clearly even though it 30 years ago now that for no reason I can see or remember or tell I started to take back roads on my way walking to college instead of the busy main roads but even that became almost impossible and so slowly I stopped going often and then was kicked out. I started to prefer it being dark outside than say mid day as for some reason in the dark I was able to walk with much much less anxiety. Gradually I lost all friends because any invites to places, any thing to do with going out etc etc as friends all do right, I found excuses not to. At one point and even still now even talking on the phone or answering it was a major issue. I probably spent the next 15 years from college quite secluded and "happy" in doors, i say happy but I never was. I am 49 now and sick of it and think I have spent over half my life with this controlling me, lets have half without it but it just is not that easy and it is just not working, nothing seems to. What is frustrating is I know everything I think is wrong, I know everything is not how I think it is and people just are not looking and caring or anything like I convince myself and I know it is all in my head but how can I know that and yet tell myself really that it is all how I think? It is so frustrating. I am convinced people look at me, people judge me, people speak about me all sorts, it actually caused aggression when I were younger which is still inside of me in a big way but I think with age and experience of handling it I am able to do that but when I think somebody is speaking about me or worse somebody I tell anything about this to does not take me seriously or laughs it off. Anyway I could go on and on because living like that certainly caused a lot of other issues with me but I will stop here, maybe saying all of this just lets others who can relate know they are not alone, I hope anyone with anything like this gets rid of it and I will continue to fight this myself as well. I wish you all of the best and anybody who gets rid of it totally makes me the happiest person ever because I understand what it does to you or done to you

[bearj]

1:09 plan
3:06 calm yourself
4:35 slow down
5:38 mindfull walking
6:52 engage in acts of kindness
8:38 socialize in public

[Alex-veuq]

I fly a lot for work, and I dread having to go through the airport, my anxiety going through the airport is crippling, i often just have to go into the bathroom and just sit there and calm down. Its terrible.

[cooookie]

I think that'll be helpful. Thanx.

[pematenzin]

My main concern is not knowing where to look when a unknown person faces you while walking.
Any recommendations 😢??

[LL_SHAWN_P]

If this is a exercise that we need to practice than why do so many millions of people get prescribed Xanax for anxiety?

[sumbae]

I find it stressful because people exist and breathe and make annoying noises. Who cares about anxiety I just can't handle there being people everywhere 24/7. Talking, breathing, whistling. If they were quiet it would be easier. It has nothing to do with anxiety. Why do all psychologist think being annoyed by sounds can only be anxiety. Why is there no help for people with adhd, who are stressed by sounds and people touching and bumping into you outside. I just want personal space not to cuddle with random strangers in public

[chiafashionista]

This is the best social anxiety self help vid I’ve ever watched 🥲 Ty so much