"One word—IKEA.

It’ll be fine, just get in and get out, simple. It’ll be fine…

Growing up, I knew I never like crowds but I didn't know it was a problem until I got later into my teenage years. It wasn't until I felt a full-blown panic attack in IKEA that I started to recognize the signs. There wasn’t an overly explicit trigger—it just finally sunk it that I could not escape, and that become my #1 priority. “No man left behind” didn’t matter anymore, whatever I needed to buy didn’t matter anymore, the only thing that mattered was getting the hell out of there so I could focus on my breathing and calm down. For me, it felt like my surroundings were closing in on top of me, the noise was getting louder, and everywhere I looked, there was another roadblock. Since then, I avoid crowded areas at all costs. Of course, I’m a functioning human with responsibilities: go to classes, get groceries, etc. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a few coping mechanisms to keep "IKEA" from ever happening again. Step 1: planning is key, but do it right. Don’t set yourself up for failure by only mentally preparing for one plan—you can control yourself but not anyone else. I plan for where I’m going, what I need to do, and I play through the situation and any related scenarios in my head before I go. Yes, it can be exhausting and it may seem like a waste of time but it helps me avoid a panic attack when I realize everyone and their mother is in the grocery aisle I need AND I need to ask someone to grab me something from the top shelf. Step 2: distraction, distraction, distraction. I listen to music constantly to distract my brain from my surroundings and solely focus on the task at hand. My experience is a learning curve, it may not be an easy-fix for every situation or something that works for everyone else but it keeps me living."

—George Washington University Student