Anxiety and aggravation while shopping

When I go shopping in a large shopping center and it is busy I can end up feeling like the walls are closing in on me and get very aggravated, snappy and downright mean.
I used to think that this was because I was tired or it was a mood swing but now I am not so sure.

I am now thinking it may be anxiety and/or panic. This seems to fit a little better than anything else.

Usually I would keep shopping while this feeling got worse and then it would end up ruining the rest of my day and night and quite often I wouldn't sleep and there goes a swing up or down (I have Bipolar).
Today I challenged the anxiety and left immediately when I recognized the agitation and the tenseness. I got home and put away the couple of things I had bought and put a load of washing on the line and then sat down and read a book. All the while reminding myself that I was OK and that the noise and bustle of the shopping center was a trigger for me and I needed to work with it.
After about 2 hours of quiet reading and some lunch I felt so much better.

I was wondering how others handle this? What feelings do you get and how do you get through them? I don't take meds for my anxiety but I do have them there for extreme back ups.

[madys]

I exactly go through the same.

the only thing that works for me and will work for anyone is;
i keep on reminding myself that
It can`t last for extended period of time,as my adrenaline is soon going to be consumed up.

2ndly two most difficult things which seem impossible but r the key solution to get urself in ur OWN control r

a. don`t run away from the situation telling urself...i can face it,im not a coward,its just a feeling n im not going anywhere...its the anxiety/panic that has to fade away.

b. shout the word STOP either silently or loudly(depending upon the noise around u)...atleast loud enough to be audible to ur own ears.its really difficult to talk when ur at the height of anxiety/panic....but try it.

3rdly try searching for minute details or of things or listening to ny music or start reading nything u can even if its the amount of cals in a pack of chips u r holding....DISTRACTIONS...but they work for me

4thly if u can ask someone close to u....to tell u repeatedly by taking ur name...everything is alright n ur fine....nothings wrong or anything....

Good-luck