Attending a concert

Hi Rosie, I identify with a lot of what you have said so hopefully I can help. 

Rose said:

really worried my anxiety is going to ruin it

I used to do this with everything to the point where I ended up not wanting to go. I realised a few years ago that I am never going to be able to turn my anxiety off while I am at an event, even if it is one I am particularly looking forward to. So now I use a different approach. I accept that the anxiety will be there, I try not to fight it (as that will make it worse) and then I try to think of it as just background noise, like static on a radio, and know that I can enjoy myself even while it is there

Also, anxiety building in advance of the event is totally ok and normal for us

I am less useful about the crowds and things. Maybe having some calming pictures on your phone to look at if you get overwhelmed. Or maybe your friends could be understnading about not being right in the middle of the pit. 

Oh and also, Taylor Swift is pretty awesome. 

That all sounds like good advice. I'd not considered that the anxiety beforehand was OK. But on reflection, I think you're right. In fact, I think it maybe is more than OK. Perhaps it's even necessary in some sense, as it's part of preparing, mentally and practically. I/we need to be as prepared in our minds as we can be. If we've had some of that anxiety and prepared before the event, perhaps the anxiety during the event is less likely to get out of hand. Perhaps... 

That all sounds like good advice. I'd not considered that the anxiety beforehand was OK. But on reflection, I think you're right. In fact, I think it maybe is more than OK. Perhaps it's even necessary in some sense, as it's part of preparing, mentally and practically. I/we need to be as prepared in our minds as we can be. If we've had some of that anxiety and prepared before the event, perhaps the anxiety during the event is less likely to get out of hand. Perhaps...