Shopping centers, crowds, crown casino, festivals - all give me high key anxiety. Too many people for my hyper vigilance to process and I get so overwhelmed.

One time, my partner and I walked through Crown (we don’t gamble, I’d just never been inside), and I had a panic attack. All the people everywhere, the lack of visible exits, people staring at the pokie machines, I couldn’t take it.

I’ve been back since, to see a movie, and that was okay. It’s close enough to the exit. But I just can’t take being in a crowded place anymore.