Finding the world to be overwhelming and overstimulating all of a sudden

[downinthedumpss]

I'm 31 and have been working from home for the past 4 years, which may be a factor. But the last few months I've found that I've been getting increasingly overwhelmed and anxious when out and about. Going to the supermarket or into town wipes me out mentally, my brain feels cloudy and frazzled. I went into town today to just mooch around and I had to come straight home, I felt so overwhelmed and anxious and it felt like such a struggle just to navigate around people and keep out of people's way, let alone remember what I even wanted to look at in town. I used to love shopping.

I drive and there have been times I've sat in my car after being in the supermarket and had to wait for the feeling to pass before I drove home. I've also started avoiding driving as I feel like I'm going to be too mentally fatigued to drive home.

Idk what it is. I'm neurotypical but do have anxiety. I'm not sure if it's because my weekdays are spent mainly at home and my body has become much more sensitive as a result? I'm not sure what to do to help myself with this

Does anyone else experience this?

You know what, I don’t think it’s that unusual any more to feel like this, especially when driving.

Busy shops, enhanced security in shops, busier roads than ever, that continuous undercurrent of rising prices, potential frayed tempers, the old co-op divi book now replaced by plastic cards and ‘Scan & Wait For Ages Not Actually Go’, supermarket radio stations & tannoys, car park notices with unreadable small print, infernal beeping noises, pollution, strip lights, shitty air conditioning systems and sad staff … pass me the keys to the Time Machine, Cyril.

I can relate to this. I changed to a WFH role at the end of last year after 30 years of daily commuting into the city. I now feel incredibly overwhelmed on the rare occasions I have to drive into the city and the thought of it unnerves me. Honestly, my daily world has become so small. If these 15 minute cities ever take off I'm sure I'll no issue adapting.

Did anything change around the time it started? Any illness or any stressful life changes?

I can relate to this

Everything just feels so close and connected all the time.

I often think how reassuring and simple it must have been to live on a farm years ago and do the same menial tasks each day, outside, in the fresh air. Early bed, simple, predictable food etc.

(Obviously disclaimer of knowing farming isn't always reliable etc etc)

I moved out of a city into a very rural location last year, and while there's much I miss about urban life, it was incredible how un-tense I felt after just a week of not being forced off the stupidly narrow and insanely crowded pavement into oncoming traffic, or having to edge my way around throngs of people in a packed supermarket, or being observed in whatever I do by potentially hundreds of strangers from the moment I open my curtains in the morning.

Since moving away I've had space to think my own thoughts, and am more inclined to be friendly and patient with people rather than fantasising about beating them to death with my umbrella for playing music out loud on their phones.

Cities are way too crowded and noisy.

I think wfh has a lot to answer for. What's good about it is really good, but is it actually what we need to function in society and as social creatures?

I get this. I find simple things like shutting my bedroom door, or turning my phone to do not disturb, or closing my curtains has a huge mental effect on me by blocking out the world. It’s more psychological than actual blocking but it really takes me down to a level of calmness.