WIBU to sit in this empty seat?

[FlowersAndShit]

I'm agoraphobic and have social anxiety and managed to walk 10 minutes to the doctors for a blood test earlier. I usually sit right by the entrance where there are 4 chairs in a row. There is also another waiting room further down but I was feeling self-concious and anxious and just wanted to be in and out and not draw attention to myself by walking into a partially full waiting room.

There was a woman with a 4x4 buggy sitting in one of the chairs, an empty seat next to her and the other seats had bags/a walking stick. An elderly woman was standing talking to the woman with the pushchair, and a man was also standing, I assume he was her partner. I went to sit in the empty chair next to the woman and she said someone was already sitting there.

I was so embarassed and got up and said it's ok, i'll go in the other room. Cue everyone staring at me and me going bright red . This sort of thing is why I'm too scared to go places.

OP well done for managing to get to the GP. You did nothing wrong. I do completely understand the fear of humiliation in public. But look what you did - you dealt with the situation! It made you feel anxious, and it pressed all your buttons, but you dealt with it. Try and feel a bit of recognition for what you achieved through your anxiety if you can, because you should be really proud of yourself.

I think it was shirty and deeply stupid and ignorant. But there are wanky twats in real life too so I guess it doesn't matter. And of course the thread is largely supportive, because most people are not wanky twats.

the situation you describe really shouldn't be causing you stress

I expect the OP was blown away by that revelation. Silly person, just go and see a Gp to cure your problem.

Betsy, I don't think it was meant to be 'shirty', it was just a way to let OP know that (a little thoughtlessly) that she should try to get help for her problem.

I see that advice on MN all that time.

You've put this in the same league with 'fat people eat too much' ignorance, which I think is unfair.

It is very unfair. Shirty was a typo. I meant to say shitty.

Maybe some of you have read some of Flowers previous posts, many won't have.
I've skimmed through a few.

And while lots of you would've sat on the chair and said "Tough" or "Well, I've just crushed them with my behemoth arse" or just not replied, Flowers isn't one of that type.

Yes there is help out there, but not everyone is on the same page.

Huge hug for you FLOWERS

Honestly, that woman wouldn't remember anything about the exchange now, you may have felt humiliated at the time, but that was a false humiliation, it's the irrational part of the agoraphobia

Well done for getting there and back, well done for posting here too.

I've had mild agoraphobia myself, still have wobbles sometimes so I appreciate what it took for you to do what you did. And to have it not go to plan? Hideous.

Are you on any medication?

My agoraphobia was mild, so I got by with rescue remedy.

I have no idea whatsoever if it actually has any real effect, but even if it only tricked me into thinking I was braver, it did the trick, and that's all that matters ☺️