I've been reading about this more and more here and I've posted about it too. For me sometimes the thought of going out gives me anxiety in and of itself but then I will sit at home, a lot of times by myself, and my mind will race which makes feel really anxious and in turn makes my anxiety so much worse. But when I get out and about my mind is occupied and my anxiety subsides most of the time. It's just the thought of going out that makes me anxious but being out makes me forget about life's stresses which I think is so much better for my anxiety. When I'm at home, I try to keep myself busy but that doesn't even work a lot of the time. What works is interacting with other people. That seems to help me the most but I have to pick and choose what works for me in terms of an outing. Yesterday I was at a mellow family bbq outdoors so that was very relaxing and calming. I didn't feel anxious at all when I was there. But if friends invite me out to an event that I know will be packed, I have to see how I am feeling at the time of the invite. If my stress if a lot lower and I think I can handle it then I'll go, otherwise I pass because I know that it'll make me feel panicky and I don't want to do that to myself.
In the end, I think that getting out is better than staying home a lot of the time but it's definitely a case by case basis. It's important to listen to your body and hear what it's telling you.
Getting out. Or even forcing yourself to get out. I think it also makes your mind free of any worries. If anything for just a few hours.
hey millie, that's a really good point. i always think that staying in is better for me but anytime i've gotten out it takes my mind off of all of my stress and ends up helping more than when i stay in. when i stay in on my own all of my stress keeps circulating in my mind over and over and over again. that can't be good for me.