Handling Crowd Sounds When Outdoors
Time
5-15 minutes maximum
Tools
Youtube video
What To Do
Search for “Crowd Sounds” on Youtube. Listen to crowd sounds on Youtube video player. Play the video for 5 minutes. Gradually increase the duration of the video playing to a maximum of 15 minutes.
What Does It Do
If you are uncomfortable with going outdoors, train yourself with listening to the crowd sounds on Youtube. The main reason is to get familiar with the sounds in the surroundings gradually. Every single day, be comfortable in discomfort. Your ability to get comfortable in a crowd will only bring you a step further. It is a good practice for you to get comfortable in crowds. Hopefully, over time, you will not be as sensitive as before.
How I Feel After Doing It
I do not feel so intimidated and uncomfortable when outdoors. In the beginning of my relapse, I was so uncomfortable each time I go outside of my house. I will exercise outside of my porch almost daily. Even when am outside in my house porch, I would cry after hearing voices, car door slamming sounds or sounds of laughter. After a while, I get more and more used to the surroundings.
After a year of going outdoors to order takeaway or standing outside of the market to follow my mother for groceries, I became more brave.
I decided to go for further outdoor events or dinner settings with my family at a restaurant in the city. I had difficulties listening to people having conversations and sounds of laughters. I cried a few times in several occasions but I never gave up going outdoors. Thanks to my family’s support and my willingness to try being outside of the house, I became stronger.
3 years later, after various short vacations and challenges, I could experience night life in the city and eat in various restaurants without crying. I only feel uncomfortable or had difficulties engaging in conversations with the people at the same table with me. I would appear to talk less or may seem quiet. This is not really an issue as I have always been an introvert and I usually talk less in a small group. I could also hang out and eat with my close friends in a cafe. I feel as though my hard work and effort has paid off. I noticed that if I stay indoors for more than 5 days or a week, I tend to be complacent and wish to stay indoors. You must train yourself to go outdoors as often as possible.
Don’t worry about breaking down and crying. Every single teardrop would bring you forward. If you cry at a particular restaurant, go there and dine again the very next day. Do it until you do not cry. If you do not wish to eat the same food again or feel embarassed, you will eventually learn to manage your feelings. It is tough but do dine at a restaurant only when you feel that you are ready.
“Being brave or being courageous is really just a matter of how much you want to do something”.
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