Social Phobia and Holiday Shopping

In today’s society, the winter holidays have become synonymous with endless shopping opportunities. The day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as Black Friday, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Unbelievable cost savings, the release of new electronics, and the availability of seasonal items ranging from coffee blends to Christmas trees lure bargain hunters to malls and independent retailers around the world. If you suffer from social phobia, the increased crowds may make you want to hibernate until after the New Year. Fortunately, in the digital age, holiday crowds are easier to manage than ever before.

Shop Online

The easiest way to manage a fear of crowds is simply to avoid the crowds. Virtually any item imaginable is now available online. Major retailers and big box stores often hold special internet-only sales. Some even release their Black Friday specials online hours before the stores open.

Search for the particular item you want, or go to your favorite retailers’ websites to scan their deals. Some websites, such as blackfriday.com, collect Black Friday and other holiday deals from across the country, publishing all of the sales in one easy to navigate spot.

Plan Ahead

Although online shopping allows you to avoid crowds altogether, there will be times that you want to go to a physical store and purchase the things that you need. Make a detailed plan to avoid the worst of the crowds. Most stores offer “door busters” on Black Friday and throughout the holiday season. These deals are available for only a few hours just after the store opens for business. If you are not interested in door busters, plan to arrive in the mid-afternoon, after the morning crowds have dispersed.

If you want to shop the door busters, crowds will be immense. Some stores, such as Best Buy, allow shoppers to line up outside on Thanksgiving night. Numbers are distributed to those in line during the early morning hours. Although you must dedicate a great deal of time, this orderly distribution system can help to alleviate the symptoms of social phobia.

Shop With a Friend

Even the grocery store may be more crowded than usual throughout the holiday season. Whenever possible, shop with a friend or relative who is familiar with your phobia. Your support person can help you with breathing exercises and other coping techniques, help to shield you from the crowd, and remove you from the situation when necessary. She can also handle transactions when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Seek Treatment

Social phobia can worsen over time, eventually leading to isolation and even feelings of depression. Although the symptoms can often be managed, treatment is always the best solution. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, in which you will learn new ways of thinking and behaving, has an excellent rate of success. Other treatment options include medications, hypnosis, and other forms of talk therapy.

With proper treatment, there is no reason for social phobia to impact the holidays or any other part of your life.