Anxiety about going to a concert… please help?
I’m a 16 yr old kid, and my friend and I got tickets to a show at Madison Square Garden this July. It’s a sold out show and its my favorite band, not to mention a once in a lifetime reunion concert. I really want to go, but I keep getting really nervous thinking about it to the point where I’m thinking about giving up the ticket.
I live in the Philly suburbs and I’ve never been to New York before, not to mention the fact that my parents won’t be with me and the concert (they’ll be at dinner somewhere in the city.)
My friend is not too supportive with this kind of stuff, and i do have a history of anxiety/panic attacks. I get very nauseous and short of breath.
I don’t want to miss the concert, but I don’t know If I can go without freaking out and looking stupid in front of my friend.
Can someone please help me, the concert is only 2 weeks away!
I hope that your parents have gotten you professional help for your anxiety attacks. It is imperative that you address this issue without being ashamed of it. There are medications that can help you (many of them) and they have very few minor side effects. Please don’t delay. I spent my childhood avoiding so many things because of my anxiety attacks. No one was sympathetic because they didn’t understand them. I spent most of my young life avoiding things that I was afraid would trigger a panic attack. This led to depression in my adult life and almost destroyed my life entirely. If you go to the Miami New Times website and search "The Last Temptation of George Petrie" you can read about my downward spiral. I finally went to a therapist who put me on Prozac and Xanax. The Prozac (while developed for depression can also alleviate anxiety attacks). The xanax was for times when I felt I needed a little extra help with what you have which is called "anticipatory anxiety". My life has turned around and I wish I could have enjoyed my childhood more if people only recognized that I have a very common problem with brain chemistry. Don’t forget, if you had diabetes or another organic disease people would be understanding and you wouldn’t hesitate to get professional help. The same is true with this. It is a very very common problem that people don’t want to talk about and it needs to be treated before it takes over your entire life. Best wishes to you and enjoy the concert.
Comments
Comment from Ablebaby
Time January 19, 2010 at 12:32 am
Why are you nervous? If you don’t want to dance or something just sing along and be happy…get a nice outfit make sure you are fresh no own will get hurt or anything what is it is it you don’t like crowds if so don’t exclude them from your mind you are all there for fun so have fun they won’t really be worried bout you just the people on stage and how they can get to them…smiles have fun too drop the nervousness
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Comment from Hopeful
Time January 19, 2010 at 1:17 am
I too suffer from bad anxiety /panic attacks. It is hard when you are having participatory ideas ahead of time because you are setting yourself up. I also used to do the same thing but could only stop after the help of a therapist. It sounds like for short term and since the concert is only 2 weeks away that you need to go see a Dr. and get on an anxiety medication but you need to see a therapist or Psychologist and get to the root of what is causing your anxiety attacks so you can stop them before they get worse. I hope you have fun at the concert. Try telling your friend at least a little of what is going on so they he/she can support you and you won’t be so worried perhaps. Good luck to you~
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Comment from George P
Time January 19, 2010 at 1:37 am
I hope that your parents have gotten you professional help for your anxiety attacks. It is imperative that you address this issue without being ashamed of it. There are medications that can help you (many of them) and they have very few minor side effects. Please don’t delay. I spent my childhood avoiding so many things because of my anxiety attacks. No one was sympathetic because they didn’t understand them. I spent most of my young life avoiding things that I was afraid would trigger a panic attack. This led to depression in my adult life and almost destroyed my life entirely. If you go to the Miami New Times website and search "The Last Temptation of George Petrie" you can read about my downward spiral. I finally went to a therapist who put me on Prozac and Xanax. The Prozac (while developed for depression can also alleviate anxiety attacks). The xanax was for times when I felt I needed a little extra help with what you have which is called "anticipatory anxiety". My life has turned around and I wish I could have enjoyed my childhood more if people only recognized that I have a very common problem with brain chemistry. Don’t forget, if you had diabetes or another organic disease people would be understanding and you wouldn’t hesitate to get professional help. The same is true with this. It is a very very common problem that people don’t want to talk about and it needs to be treated before it takes over your entire life. Best wishes to you and enjoy the concert.
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Comment from thebradwalker
Time January 19, 2010 at 12:02 am
i really dont see anything to be nervous about sure i was nervous at my first concert its probably just the feeling of going to the big city and having it so crowded and probably a fear of getting separated from your friend and parents but if when you first go do not stay in the mosh pit area because you will get tossed around like a caeser salad wait in your seats they will elt everyone into the mosh pit and it will be mass pandamondiom so wait till it calms down than go down and have fun your friend may want to go to the pit at the beginning but he will regretit so just stay calm and if you really dont want to go to dont
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