Have troubles being in crowds?

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As long as I know I don't have to interact with anyone, people aren't making too much noise and I have my mp3-player I'm fine; I just can shut out everything I'm hearing and most of what I'm seeing. The real problem are groups where I know I might be forced to interact with a load of almost-strangers.

I hate crowd indoors. It can be a small crowd of a few people and I will feel awkward. I don't have the same problem outdoors. I like the hustle and bustle of the city as long as I don't have to interact with anybody.

Crowds usualy do not bother me with their many different, unblended sounds. I actualy find that peaceful, so long as nobody lightly pokes or touches me, or bugs me too much either. I am NOT going to a sports stadium, because certain sounds from the human mouth by the mass load blend too much, and come out at the same time, and they get loud. It would be nothing short of my own "the sound of hell" version going on in my brain. Part of my vision might mess up to, because it plays with my thoughts somehow.

That's kind of wierd.

hi superboyian

i am not sure how to answer this; yes i can handle crowds and no i can't... it's really subject to why i am there and if i have a particular focus.

i do go out on the town, but rarely... if i am in the middle of a packed club, eyes closed or focused on what the DJ or lighting person is doing - or the lightshow itself, dancing (read: jumping around ) in my own space, and possibly under the influence (8O ahem lol) i am fine... but if you put me in a crowded room, a party, a shopping centre, a mall, or a busy high street without clear focus for being there, then i am out of my comfort zone.

that being said, if i am in a technically focused environment i can hold the attention of a room and lead a successful presentation. put me in a field environment where i am there for a purpose (troubleshooting or teaching) and i am capable of professional degree of function (convincingly so).

...but if you should put me in a one-on-one and i am on the spot regarding a seemingly trivial personal question (small talk) i will lose the capacity to maintain conversation and composure; stammering, not being able to maintain eye contact, tics and stimming are usually not far off... just as if i was in a crowded room, a party, a shopping centre, a mall, or a busy high street... the stammering, and/or vocal tics, also apply if i am on the telephone.

i do not understand how my mind works.

Random crowds, such as while shopping or at concerts or some such, don't really bother me. Crowds, however, that are designed as some sort of group social activity are very difficult for me. I went to an academic conference a few months back and went to a session for people new to the field. I thought it would be a pretty low-key Q&A type thing but instead it turend out to be about 100 people packed into a small room where we were just encouraged to mingle and get to know other people. Just being there was quite stressfull and overwhelming. I stuck to it aslong as I could but escaped at the first chance I got.

Nordic

I don't like being touched... even by accdent... ESPECIALLY by accident actually. So needless to say, I don't like crouds.

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I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )