Hey, i just wanted to share that recently i feel nauseous whenever i am in any public area (eg shopping mall, MRT or even the bus). I am not sure what is wrong with me, but i do feel a sense of anxiety and fear which makes my nausea worse. I am not sure if this is social anxiety. 
Also, whenever i dine with my friends or family in public spaces, i also would feel nauseous and somehow nervous as well. Iâm not sure if itâs my anxiety that caused this nausea feeling or is it this unknown nausea feeling causing my anxiety. Furthermore, sometimes when i am in a crowded bus or MRT, i would feel as though i am being cornered or surrounded and i would feel nervous or afraid. I tried many ways to distract myself, now listening to music or pinching myself and even biting my lips doesnât work anymore.
sounds like social anxiety disorder. please go to your polyclinic and tell the doc about this problem n he or she will refer u to psych help
Hi @Willow1, thank you for having the courage to reach out and share about your experience.
Iâm sorry to hear that youâre going through this. It sounds incredibly challenging to deal with both the physical sensation of nausea and the emotional strain of anxiety, especially in public spaces. Your experiences are valid, and itâs important to acknowledge that these feelings can be overwhelming. Anxiety can manifest in various ways, including physical symptoms like nausea, and itâs not uncommon for people to feel trapped or cornered in crowded places.
Itâs understandable that the methods youâve tried to cope with these feelings might not be working as well anymore. Sometimes, anxiety can become so intense that it feels difficult to manage on your own. It might be helpful to talk to a mental health professional about what youâre experiencing. They can work with you to identify the root cause of your anxiety and help develop strategies to manage it. Whether itâs social anxiety or another form of anxiety, a professional can offer guidance and support tailored to your needs.
In the meantime, try to be gentle with yourself and recognize that seeking help is a courageous step. Youâre not alone in this, and there are people who care about your well-being and want to support you. Itâs okay to reach out to friends, family, or a therapist for help. Your feelings are important, and taking care of your mental health is a vital part of your overall well-being.
I have provided some links to mental health services in the community which may be helpful. Hope this helps! 
Mental Health Helplines:
SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222 (24 hours)
Community Mental Health Resources:8
IMH CHAT: https://www.imh.com.sg/CHAT/Get-Help/Pages/default.aspx
Community Outreach Teams (CREST): SupportGoWhere
Hi @nehznay
Thank you for the openness and sharing your uncomfortable symptoms. Itâs understandable that youâre unsure about whatâs causing them.
Based on what youâve shared, itâs possible that you might be experiencing symptoms of anxiety, specifically social anxiety or crowd anxiety. The nausea, fear, and nervousness you feel in public areas, such as shopping malls, public transportation, or dining with others, are common symptoms of anxiety.
The feeling of being cornered or surrounded in crowded spaces is also a common experience for people with anxiety. Itâs as if your brain is sending you signals that youâre in danger, even when thereâs no apparent threat.
Itâs great that youâve tried various distraction techniques, but since theyâre no longer working, it might be helpful to explore other strategies. Here are a few suggestions:
- Deep breathing exercises: When you start to feel anxious or nauseous, try taking slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. This can help calm your nervous system.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: Tense and then relax different muscle groups in your body, starting with your toes and moving up to your head. This can help release physical tension.
- Visualization: Imagine yourself in a safe, calm environment, such as a beach or a forest. Use all your senses to create a vivid mental picture, and try to focus on this image when youâre feeling anxious.
- Mindfulness meditation: You can find online courses and videos on mindfulness. These can help you develop greater awareness of your thoughts and feelings, making it easier to manage anxiety.
- Seek professional help: Consider consulting a mental health professional, such as a therapist or counsellor, who can help you develop coping strategies and work through underlying issues that may be contributing to your anxiety.
Do prioritise your mental health and seek help when you need it. You donât have to face this alone. Take tiny steps forward beginning with a first step and then continue to take one step at a time. Be patient with yourself, and keep going. I believe with consistent effort, you can better manage this.
Hey, thanks for replying. Honestly, i am confused whether the nausea feeling is a symptom due to other illnesses or is it really due to anxiety. However, one thing i know for sure is when i am anxious/nervous i would definitely feel nauseous, whereby i can feel thereâs something stuck in my throat (something like globus sensation) and because i am afraid of vomiting, the more the anxiety and fear builds up which makes things worst. I did see a doctor about this feeling of something stuck in my throat and he prescribed me acid reflux medication. However, it does not seem to work.
Hi @nehznay
Thank you for sharing this further information. I think it may help to record what happened prior to each incident and the thoughts that you had in response to the situation.
I have personally observed that minds churns out thoughts after thoughts. Many of these thoughts are not useful or true, but the mind cannot keep quiet still and keeps on generating thoughts.
Many of us may not realise it so when a random thought arises, we believe it is the truth. It becomes worse when we start focusing on the thought and keep thinking about it. The thought develops into a whole complex explanation and we may start believing it so much until if affects our moods and feelings such as anxiety. Sensations such as wanting to vomit may also develop.
We may also choose actions such as avoidance to feel safe momentarily which creates a loop which is hard to break free from. Certain negative beliefs may form and the negative automatic thought pathway may become more entrenched due to safety behaviours such as avoidance.
Its understandably tough to break free so I encourage you to take tiny steps to slow down and choose your response when faced with the new situation.
Instead of automatically reverting to the negative belief and thoughts and the safety behaviours, mindfully observe these negative belief and thoughts from a distance. Reflect in your positive qualities and choose to be more compassionate and balanced in your response.
In this way, I believe you stay more present in the moment instead of getting caught in the negative thinking cycle.
With practice of mindfulness, you can slowly break free from the automatic cycle of negative thoughts and beliefs.
I hope this helps a little. Thks for courageâ„ïž.