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How can I be less anxious amongst large crowds?

15 Answers
Last Updated: 07/17/2018 at 11:38am
1 Tip to Feel Better
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Jennifer Patterson, LMFT

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Life can be messy. Sometimes you need a little support to make your way through it. I love to help guide people through their challenges & to find the beauty in our messes.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
April 8th, 2015 3:16am
Breathing exercises in for 4 and exhale for 7. Walk around, observe one thing and focus on that and that only. Whether a person, a sound, a smell.
Anonymous
June 9th, 2015 2:36am
Medication can help, but you can also work on relaxation techniques or other methods, including meditation/focusing on your breathing. You can also imagine as if the other people aren't there or just focus on one or two people to reduce your social anxiety.
Dreamz
June 22nd, 2015 8:51pm
Large crowds can be very scary but one method would be to realize that those people are probably just as nervous as you are. Only very few people like large crowds. It is a very slim chance that anyone there isn't feeling anxiety of being in a large crowd.
Ben19
July 7th, 2015 1:24am
What I find that helps is instead of looking wide lens on the crowd, look at certain things, dont over whelm yourself with tasks to keep yourself away from noticing the crowed, just try and keep a relaxed approach to it.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2015 6:21pm
Try to close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing before you get into crowds. When amongst large crowds, try to stay focused on the breathing
PoliteOcean
September 21st, 2015 4:56am
Everyone is different. There is no one answer fits all. You need to do what works for you. If you find you are having difficulty coping, perhaps speaking with a therapist or counselor can help.
Anonymous
October 26th, 2015 3:05pm
Try to have a buddy system if possible. Stick to a close friend... or take a deep breath and pretend no one else is around me.
Anonymous
November 9th, 2015 1:13am
What has helped me is staying close my friends by holding on to them or letting them know that I need them to stay close to me for my comfort.
Anonymous
November 10th, 2015 3:11am
Use breathing exercises, distract yourself with music and start becoming more social - e.g. going out with small groups of friends. You slowly have to bring yourself to feel comfortable around other people - it's a process and it won't happen over night, just stay persistent and determined.
Alcazand
December 7th, 2015 5:26pm
Deep breaths, start of small mabey find a really good ice cream store to treat yourself and reward yourself for being brave
Anonymous
January 4th, 2016 7:13pm
Well first of all figure out what triggers you in these large crowds. Is it the people? The closeness? The awkwardness? Once you figure that out, then you can work on realizing that it's all okay, and nobody's going to bite you.
ingeniousBerry82
April 18th, 2017 2:39pm
Be confident! Don't look down on yourself. We all have our insecurities about what we could do wrong. But try to think about your good qualities - your interesting stories you'd like to share to others, your knowledge, your positive energy, your kindness, your smile, your funny quirks, your willingness to learn more about others and wisdoms. Everyone have something to offer and contribute. Find yours! I believe in that, you should do the same! Cheers :)
Anonymous
April 3rd, 2018 5:22am
Try to picture in your head I things that do involve people that you can handle in a smaller scale for example if you have been involved in sports picture that you are the player and those people that your face in society are your opponents it helps you to breathe easier and give you the confidence to be strong most importantly just got to remember that the only difference is you just got to learn to relax and be yourself
Anonymous
May 29th, 2018 7:03pm
Frankly, it’s about familiarizing yourself with large crowds and being able to find comfort outside of your comfort zone. It’s always challenging to step away from a routine, something that’s predictable, but with more practice, you’ll eventually get the hang of it.
BlankaM
July 17th, 2018 11:38am
Being anxious in a large crowd can be due to many reasons, for me its a combination of different factors. Recent stabbings and terrorist attacks stain people's perceptions of safety in public. Unfortunately living in a big international city such as London exposes you to the small chance of something horrible happening- but you can't let this thought control you. You should trust that law enforcement and crime prevention are efficiently implemented for your safety, so you can put your mind at ease. However, this doesn't mean that you should actively seek out dangerous situations or try get into trouble. Another method I used to be less anxious in large crowds is by putting myself into other people's shoes. Everyone is trying to go somewhere, see someone, which might explain the pushing and the rush. I try not to take it personally when someone shoves me or steps on my shoes because it will just increase your anxiety.