How to deal with concert anxiety?

This post answers: How to deal with concert anxiety? What is concert anxiety? What is Anxiety? What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? What are the causes of anxiety? What are some ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?

How to deal with concert anxiety?

If you are someone who has concert anxiety and would like to be able to attend your favorite concerts, the following tips may be very helpful for you:

Attend concerts with someone who cares about you

People who have a hard time attending concerts often worry that something bad will happen to them. They perceive the crown as a mob-like gathering, and they think every single person in the concert poses a threat to them. They feel helpless and insecure.

The best way to deal with this issue is to go with someone who cares about you. Don’t go with just any family member or friend. Sometimes, it may worsen your anxiety because if you want to leave and they don’t (because they want to enjoy the concert), it can make you feel like you are trapped.

Make sure the person you go with is someone who cares about you, so that they may help you enjoy the concert and help you if you get in trouble. 

Ensure that you have eaten well and are properly rested

If you have not eaten properly before attending the concert, it can trigger your anxiety almost immediately after the concert starts. Not eating properly can lead to confusion, fainting, and general physical weakness. It can also lead to hypoglycemia which can further cause hypertension.

Concerts require energy, which is why you need to make sure that you have eaten properly before going to the concert. Also, make sure you are properly rested.

Remember that people are judging the music, not you

One of the reasons people have concert anxiety is the fear of judgment. They think people in large crowds will judge them, and that makes them extremely uncomfortable.

Remember that people don’t come to concerts to judge each other. Their sole purpose is to enjoy the music. They may judge the music band and their performance but not you.

Wear earplugs

If the reason why you can’t attend concerts is that you can’t tolerate excessive noise, you can overcome this by wearing earplugs. This can reduce some of the excessive noise that the crowd is making and help you focus more on the music.

Wear comfortable clothes

If you are wearing uncomfortable clothes, it can worsen your anxiety. You wouldn’t be able to walk and dance properly in them. It’s already too hard to move through a crowd. So, make sure the clothes you are wearing are comfortable and fit for the season.

Be there before the concert starts

If you get to the concert late, there will already be a lot of crowds which would make you uncomfortable as soon as you see it. It’s better to wait than to get panicked by the crowd.

Therefore, getting there as early as possible can be very helpful. You would also get the chance to rest and eat before the concert if you haven’t already. It would also give you the chance to get physically and mentally ready for the concert.

What is concert anxiety?

Concert anxiety refers to the inability to attend concerts due to excessive worry that something bad will happen at the concert. People with concert anxiety love music, but they have a hard time attending the concerts of their favorite music bands.

They don’t have a problem with concerts per se but with large crowds and gatherings. Even when they are with friends and family, they still find it difficult to go to a concert and enjoy it without panicking.

 What is Anxiety?

Problems and resulting stress are usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called  Anxiety. 

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety. 

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? 

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as:

 

• Sweating
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Sense of choking
• Complaints of chest pain
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
• Fear of impending doom
• Hot or cold flashes
• Tingling or numbness
• Increased heart rate

These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.

What are the causes of anxiety?

Anxiety often results from accumulated stress or overwhelming feelings. Some common causes of anxiety include.

• Increased and challenging situations and demands in day-to-day life.
• Major changes in family dynamics such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one.
• Strain interpersonal relationships
• Intrapersonal conflicts
• Ineffective coping mechanisms
• Comorbid conditions both physical and mental
• Chronic health conditions
• Genetic factors
• Changes in the brain region
• Overdose of caffeine
• Prolonged use of medications
• Significant traumatic experiences in the past or recent times
• Comorbid mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder or any other phobias.

What are some ways to manage anxiety?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

 

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

 

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle changes

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

 

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Medication

Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.

Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief. 

Online therapy  

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium. 

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation. 

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusion

Some people have an extreme fear of crowds. They find it very hard to get in touch with people, enjoy concerts, and even get jobs because they always worry about how people would judge them. 

They are also extremely concerned about their safety. They see crowds as potentially threatening gatherings even when they are peaceful.

People with a fear of large crowds can’t attend concerts without getting extremely uncomfortable. Taking proper rest and eating well before the concert can help keep the anxiety in control. 

It is also important for such people to join a concert with someone they can confide in. Simply the exposure to crowds in concert can also help them over time.

Frequently asked questions: How to deal with concert anxiety?

Is concert anxiety the same as agoraphobia?

People with agoraphobia do not necessarily feel uncomfortable in crowds only. They fear both closed places and large crowds. People with concert anxiety, on the other hand, are primarily concerned about crowds.

Is concert anxiety the same as ochlophobia?

In concert anxiety, there is both the feeling of helplessness and a fear of judgment by others. However, in ochlophobia, every crowd is seen as extremely threatening, almost like a mob.

What’s the difference between ochlophobia and ochlophobia?

Enochlophobia is a simple fear of large crowds, while in ochlophobia, every crowd is seen as threatening.

Citation

https://www.health.com/condition/anxiety/calm-crowd-anxiety-concert-las-vegas-shooting

Attending Concerts with Anxiety or Panic Disorder

https://themighty.com/2017/05/music-festival-anxitety/

https://wikidiff.com/enochlophobia/ochlophobia

https://www.verywellmind.com/an-overview-of-enochlophobia-4782189