Am I going crazy or is this just extreme Social anxiety disorder?

[itgetsbetter5]

I have to travel to London for work so I’m on trains and tubes most of the time and everytime I do I get so anxious about maybe coming across suspicious to other people because guess what I probably look anxious as hell! I just feel like everytime someone stares at me for too long is that because I’m being checked out by officers or staff, I also caught a guy taking a photo of me last night! Anyone have any advise how I can cope better and think of similar thoughts??

[HopeWithSmile]

Hi itgetsbetter5!

Well, officers and staff usually pay attention to people, who's behaviour differs from "usual" patterns.

I have never experienced this kind of anxiety, but my usual coping mechanism is pretty general, so it can be used for other types of anxiety. Whenever I feel anxiety I close my eyes, inhale and exhale, open my eyes, and then I imagine myself floating through this situation. I try to distance myself from any stresses around and just float, just like I do, when I am swimming slowly on my back. I can also repeat to myself "float, just float through" to concentrate my mind on this thought.

I hope it helps.

xx