I am starting to become fearful of Walmart or parking lots with everything that has been going on... shooting/ human trafficking. So much so I’ve started to avoid situations and if I can’t avoid them I’m constantly in my head playing out situations....
Anyone have some advice or can relate?
hi can you go at a time say early morning when its quieter its a bad old world at times but the chances are we will never come across such terrible incidents.
Similar behavior started for me after 9-11. I was always looking around when I was out. When I was home I had an extreme need to watch the news morning till night. It interfered with work and my overall ability to function outside of my home. It was exhausting. It was about four years before I started to get better. After another five years my mental health took a nose dive. I wasnt able to leave the house on my own. Walmart was a big no-no even with my husband holding my hand. My therapist at the time said most of her clients had issues with Walmart. I am back to being able to go places on my own without anxiety attacks. It took years and persistence to find the right combination of meds and therapies to get me on the right track, but here I am. I'm not 100%, but with each baby step I'm closer. Good luck to you. The right help is out there.
Hi. There are lots of things to try. First go early during day light hours or off times. If you dont like Walmart go to another store in a different area. Maybe take a friend if the parking lots are bothersome for you. Look into taking a self defense class which will give you techniques to foil an attack as well as how to be vigilant. My biggest advice is walk with a purpose and always be aware of your surroundings from people, cars, a dark alcove to veer away from etc. Have your car keys in your hand when exiting the store. Walking with purpose as well as being aware of your surroundings gives you that "not an easy victim" appearance. One thing I rarely do is be on the phone going to and from the store since my mind is somewhere else. I even will note cars that seem to follow me for too long. One time I pulled into the police station since are car kept following me at night and I just had a feeling all was not right. Even in restaurants I sit facing the door or the room. The classes I have taken are really informative and provide great techniques to break holds on someone much stronger than yourself and will give you a sense of power. Knowledge is power. It doesn't happen overnight but it is empowering. I'm looking at taking a class next week. I am not by any means paranoid being in public but because of the classes this has become ingrained and it's done constantly without thinking about it. There always something you can come away with from the class. Good luck!
Don't watch the news.
First of all, get a gun. No, just kidding. But that is increasingly becoming the norm. Hard to believe FBI stats that crime is going down, I saw it on their graph in a press conference. An added expense is having it delivered unless it's not an issue. The world is riddled with martyrs and idiots for a stupid cause. For the most part you'll be as safe as anyone else there. Just try to stay in the middle of a crowd. And stay low.
Public Meltdown
Life is becoming hopeless 
ANXIETY 
Becoming.
Feeling paranoid 
