How to stop feeling uncomfortable in a crowd

If you feel uncomfortable being surrounded by people, you are not alone. Not everyone can remain calm in a noisy crowd or the large company of strangers.

However, you should not lock yourself away at home and become a hermit because social connections are vital. Take note of several ways to deal with negative emotions when you are among people.

6 ways to stop feeling uncomfortable in a crowd

1. Remind yourself of the good impressions

Being in a crowd, we often think people are judging us. Or you can worry that others will find you strange or they won’t like you. Such thoughts are caused by anxiety that has settled in your soul due to a feeling of discomfort or low self-esteem.

At these moments, it’s important to remember that the words your mind keeps saying aren’t always accurate. Yes, each of us has had difficult social situations, which may make it challenging to relax among people. Remembering them makes us nervous, confused, and anxious.

Our brains also prefer to generalize, so you may believe that a few unpleasant incidents in front of a large group of people end your social skills and are likely to happen again. Recalling multiple instances where you felt loved, respected, accepted, and understood can enable you to release the discomfort.

The next time you envision scenarios where people criticize, detest, and make fun of you, try focusing on happy memories and experiences. Avoid seeing the worst-case scenarios in your head that might never come true. Prepare yourself for actual “storylines” in life. Practicing this daily will make it much simpler to be among people and maintain your composure.

2. Pay attention to the conversation’s subject

Every time you introduce yourself to someone new, you may feel anxious. This frequently results in mental blockage when you start worrying about how bad of an impression you give others rather than how to carry on a discussion. Keep your attention on the subject of the conversation to avoid getting into such a trap.

Immerse yourself in the discussion without letting extraneous thoughts enter your mind and spoil your evening. Come up with questions for the interlocutor and remember appropriate life stories to tell. This will help you make a pleasant impression and, at the same time, reduce your nervousness, even if you have to interact with a lot of people.

3. Ask yourself, would a confident person worry about this

Confident and socially savvy people say as many “strange” things as those who dislike being in a crowd and have difficulty communicating. The only difference is that the first category of interlocutors does not worry about it. If, for an anxious person, an awkward moment seems like the end of the world, then a self-confident person does not care.

They know they mustn’t be perfect to be loved and accepted. By the way, few people like Mr. or Miss Perfect — for the most part, we are attracted to humane and understanding people like us. The next time you feel inadequate around people, ask yourself: what would a confident person think or do in my place? And then tell yourself that you are this confident person.

4. Remind yourself that people don’t have to love you

If it seems that others are looking at you disapprovingly, and because of this, you feel uncomfortable and nervous, remind yourself of one simple truth: no one is obliged to love you. You don’t need the approval of others to be a good person. And your happiness does not depend at all on those around you.

Such a reminder helps cope with the irrational fear of condemnation that often arises in a crowd. Here’s the irony: when we stop looking for people’s approval or fearing they will judge us, we become more confident and relaxed. This makes us attractive and also helps us stay comfortable in any crowd.

5. Behave calmly, even if you are blushing or sweating

Often, being in a crowd is accompanied by symptoms of anxiety: sweating, redness of the face, and trembling in the hands and feet. These symptoms only increase the discomfort and make you feel out of place. Even if your body has given you trouble, pull yourself together and tell yourself this is not a reason to worry.

Try to stay calm so as not to show others your feelings or create an awkward situation. By the way, until we lower our eyes to the floor or try to hide the signs of anxiety convulsively, most of those around us may not even suspect our condition.

People sweat if they are hot, and their hands may shake due to fatigue after training – you never know why your body does this. Remember that the less you worry about your flaws or what goes wrong, the less noticeable it is to others. So keep calm and continue your business as if nothing had happened.

6. Practice being in uncomfortable situations

The natural reaction to uncomfortable situations is to get out of them as quickly as possible. But here’s the problem: the more often you avoid them, the sooner your brain learns they are a disaster and a real danger.

If you want to stop feeling uncomfortable in a crowd, you must practice being among people. This way, you will accustom yourself to the fact that it is not as scary as it seems. Teach your brain the opposite, fighting nervousness and maintaining patience.

Over time, your fear can grow into believing you can handle any crowd and social situations. Start small, for example, with a short trip on the bus or subway. Then, when you get used to it a little, go to crowded places to take a walk and feel that others are not as judgmental and unpleasant as you think.