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Why does it always feel like I have Panic Attacks when so many people are watching?

10 Answers
Last Updated: 04/10/2018 at 6:04am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Danielle Gonzales, PsyD

Psychologist

Hello! My name is Dani, I am a Psychologist and registered Psych Assistant. I have a passion for helping a different types of clients from all diverse backgrounds!

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
June 16th, 2015 5:07am
In my personal opinion, there are at least two possibilities in the situation you have described. The first would be that being around a lot of people increases your anxiety, and therefore you feel that being around people cases the panic attacks. This would mean, in my opinion, that being around a lot of people might trigger panic attacks for you. Alternatively, when you are already experiencing a panic attack you might be hyper aware of some things, in this case, that there a lot of people around you that you feel are watching you experience the panic attack.
Anonymous
February 23rd, 2015 5:57pm
Your perceptions of the situation around you could be contributing factors to your attacks, it sometimes feels like the world is against you. But, when having a panic attack you should attempt to concentrate on yourself as being worried about others around you may make your panic attack worse.
EmmaSupportiveListener
March 2nd, 2015 12:47am
It could be because you are worried about people judging you. One interesting cognitive distortion that a lot of people have is called the Spotlight Effect. It is when we think people are paying us more attention than they are. The reality might be that people aren't watching you, or if they are they aren't specifically staring but generally looking around. Check out the Spotlight Effect. Google it and learn about it. It might help you.
CoffeeTeaAndHonesty
April 14th, 2015 9:22pm
Experiencing a panic attack is a very personal matter (similarly to how one might feel if they were crying in public) -- it's one of those things we may feel very strongly that nobody see because it makes us feel embarrassed or unpleasant in some way. So if we do happen to experience a panic attack in public, we may feel hyper-aware of ourselves, believing we must be drawing attention to ourselves.
Anonymous
May 4th, 2015 10:48pm
Panic attacks can have lots of causes. Maybe one of your triggers is people watching you. It is a common trigger for a panic attack. But you will get over it. i did :)
Anonymous
September 17th, 2015 9:13pm
Stress from being watched when you are not used to this. Poor public speaking skills are a direct result of something in this direction.
Anonymous
October 26th, 2015 4:04pm
When we are having panic attacks we notice almost everything, when we are having one we cant help but feel like people are watching. just remember to breathe and if you can remove youself from the area untill you calm down
Anonymous
August 16th, 2016 5:25am
Because being the object of so much attention can make you feel very worried and nervous, similarly to when you are having a panic attack.
Tara143
October 10th, 2016 2:55am
That is called social anxiety. The fear of being judged can be a real fear for most. But you have to ask yourself. Do they really care
aFreeSmile
April 10th, 2018 6:04am
Maybe its more of an anxiety attack? Different types of anxiety can cause things alike oanic attacks to occur.

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