[MiddayNap]

When I am in a crowded area, I tend to get very irritated. Take the feeling of claustrophobia and add the sensation of a fly buzzing repeatedly about your head and you come close to experiencing the aggravation a mere grocery trip brings upon me. It is much too loud-both visibly and audibly. There are movements and sounds everywhere. The agitation sends a sense of urgency rushing through my veins and pushes me to find an escape. Like a vampire attempting to evade the dawn, I hurry to an empty aisle or a little corner wherein I can calm myself. I seem to become over-stimulated in public situations.
Does anyone else experience this sort of irritation when in public?

[Raindropvampire]

My brother does and sometimes I do. It's one of the reasons I work 3rds and only shop in the wee hours of the morning. My brother and I can actually have fun shopping at 2am It's nice being able to walk all over the store and hardly see anyone at all...good luck finding help if you need it. Employees are harder to find at 2am then other customers lol

[avlady]

i also have this problem, and my husband does the shopping because of it. it is a good idea to shop in the middle of the night too. it can even be enjoyable then too. good luck

[littleowl2006]

yep, sounds like me. I recently posted about being overwhelmed by everything, and someone suggestes this: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...ive-person-hsp

sounds familiar?

My irritation in public situations stemps more from anxiety. On my mind constantly is behaviour. Not just my own and what people will think of me, but what I think of them. Are they behaving appropriately? Is that mother going to properly respond to her kid when it cries? Is that guy going to be an asshole to that elderly person. Is that kid going t cause a disaster, etc.

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by littleowl2006

yep, sounds like me. I recently posted about being overwhelmed by everything, and someone suggestes this: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...ive-person-hsp

sounds familiar?

Very much so. Except for the bit about violent films, as I actually quite enjoy a bit of gore.

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by avlady

i also have this problem, and my husband does the shopping because of it. it is a good idea to shop in the middle of the night too. it can even be enjoyable then too. good luck

I prefer going in the wee hours of the morning, but there are times when I've no choice but to go later.
I was curious because I've always felt this sort of discomfort in public situations and I am happy it is something experienced by others.

What other emotions are you experiencing. Do you feel revved up? Hyper sensitivity and irritability are some indicators of a swing into a hypermanic state.

Or could these be the symptoms of anxiety - that these are in somewayhow your head has worked out to react to that kind of fear ie. Fight instead of Flight.

[DeeAnnaD1913]

Yes. Absolutely. I just want to run to the closest "safe" place I can think of- a bathroom, the car, etc. since I have stopped taking benzos and subutex, it's increasingly hard to manage social situations, especially when there are a lot of people around, and they may talk to me. I feel like I stammer over my words and I don't even make sense sometimes. I hate this.

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[StarGazingFish]

i get like that,i get very severe sensory overload and have collapsed many times whilst shopping,its mainly why i was prescribed a wheelchair.
i use PRN medication before going in shops,and i use ear defenders to block out the noise.

[Dan208]

I get this way sometimes. Maybe not quite half the time I go out. Sometimes I'm fine and then it just hits me and I start to have a slight panic attack.

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[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Me too - it is ridiculous - I consult my CBT sheet on my phone to get a sense of proportion: http://psychology.tools/unhelpful-thinking-.html

I've developed this problem in recent years. I think it's because I'm living in a city for the first time in my life and the high density of people is starting to wear on me. RDV, I also like to go shopping at 1 or 2 am for this reason lol! But alas, my grocery store just went from 24 hours to 5am - 12am the other day. :'( It seems I can still handle the number of people that are there around 11pm though haha.

[Raindropvampire]

Originally Posted by DancesWithWorms

I've developed this problem in recent years. I think it's because I'm living in a city for the first time in my life and the high density of people is starting to wear on me. RDV, I also like to go shopping at 1 or 2 am for this reason lol! But alas, my grocery store just went from 24 hours to 5am - 12am the other day. :'( It seems I can still handle the number of people that are there around 11pm though haha.

A lot of stores here have been cutting back to closing at midnight. Apparently it cuts WAYYYYY down on theft. We still have a couple that are 24 hours. Glad you can handle the 11pm crowd.

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by rcat

What other emotions are you experiencing. Do you feel revved up? Hyper sensitivity and irritability are some indicators of a swing into a hypermanic state.

Or could these be the symptoms of anxiety - that these are in somewayhow your head has worked out to react to that kind of fear ie. Fight instead of Flight.

At first, I assumed it to be a symptom of anxiety as I had quite severe social anxiety as a child, but I do not feel particularly "anxious" when it occurs. I simply feel uncomfortable. I would definitely say I feel "revved up" as a result. I feel as though I need to move really, really quickly to a secluded area.
I can say with the utmost confidence I do not suffer from hypermania, as I've witnessed quite a few of my father's episodes.

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by DeeAnnaD1913

Yes. Absolutely. I just want to run to the closest "safe" place I can think of- a bathroom, the car, etc. since I have stopped taking benzos and subutex, it's increasingly hard to manage social situations, especially when there are a lot of people around, and they may talk to me. I feel like I stammer over my words and I don't even make sense sometimes. I hate this.

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Ah! I hate the stammering thing. Thankfully that doesn't happen very often, but when it does it is usually after having to talk with a lot of people.
Once, we had been quite busy at work and I was attempting to ask a woman if she would like a bag. I was not feeling particularly overwhelmed, as the rush had given way to a few moments of quiet nothing and she was the only customer in our small store at the moment. With that being said, you can imagine my surprise when the phrase "Would you like your item bagged?" came out in a series of unintelligible sounds. It is as though my brain said "You know what? I'm tired of words. Let's just make sounds and see what happens."
I spent a good five minutes trying to ask the poor woman until finally I just pointed at a bag. She smiled, said "no", and was off on her merry way. She was very nice and didn't seem annoyed in the slightest.

[freespirit37]

Yes... especially in Walmart when it is crowded. I think it is because I am an introvert.