Take A Breath Of Fresh Air
If you are in a bar, a concert, a club, or some other sort o crowded environment, spend five minutes outside breathing in fresh air. You might have to walk a little ways to officially get away from the situation, but doing so will help you clear your head and regroup. Think of this like a cool-down period in an argument, only the argument is happening inside your head. If you give your brain and your anxiety a chance to settle, you will have a much easier time getting through moments in public.
Surround Yourself With Familiarity
Being in public can be particularly nerve-wracking if you are in a strange place with strange people. It is best to have a friend nearby that you can look to for comfort. Try to find someone who knows about your situation and understands the struggles you go through. Ideally, this person will have no anxiety issues of their own because that may only intensify your worries. If you can’t have a friend accompany you in public, try to go places you have been to several times before. When you’re aware of your surroundings, you will feel much more comfortable.
Assess The World Around You
Rather than panicking about what might be around the corner, take a moment to look over the environment you are in. Specifically, you need to find an easy-access escape route in case you need to get away for a moment. Just having this in the back of your mind will help you feel less trapped, and it may allow you to focus on what’s actually going on around you.
The key here is to push yourself without getting overwhelmed in the process. Try to make the most of your time in public and learn to see the benefits that come from it. You might not be a social butterfly, but you can at least start to feel like a member of society again.
