I get anxious and irritable in crowds or when there are hordes of people around me... what can help?

[Anonymous]

It's not natural to be among throngs of people. I avoid crowds too. What makes you think that you are missing out? You need to redefine what missing out means. I used to go to big festivals and concerts. I went to see the ball drop in Times Square. Those experiences did not leave me feeling enriched at all. I just felt like I was just doing something because the marketing gurus convinced me to do that. Once I turned off the tv and tuned into life, I realized that I could make my own choices and found that taking a hike to a beautiful waterfall was far more rewarding.