Going to a rave and ditching my consolation zone – The UCSD Guardian

Picture a comfy mattress with a cup of peppermint tea steaming on the nightstand — that’s the place you’ll discover me most Friday evenings. As somebody who chooses staying in over going out, going to a rave virtually broke my ethical handbook. Still, I’d already purchased my ticket — no turning again. My mind responded to this resolution in the one manner it knew how: overthinking about every thing that would go flawed. 

To be honest, this wasn’t an precise rave — it was music performed over TikTookay edits of “Heated Rivalry” — however for a tea-loving, Netflix-watching homebody like me, something louder than the TV quantity in my lounge requires some warning. 

When the day arrived, I picked up my good friend, and we agreed to remain within the again, hoping to keep away from listening to loss, being trampled, and overheating or fainting. Ironically sufficient, we ended up within the entrance row! The subsequent factor I knew, I used to be screaming my coronary heart out alongside strangers — how will you not sing alongside to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”?  By this level, there was a slight muffle in my ear, and my ft have been in agonizing ache. In spite of every thing, although, I additionally realized I wasn’t nervous anymore, and for the primary time that evening, I seemed ahead to what was subsequent. It was simply my luck that my favourite Gaga anthem, “Telephone,” got here on.

If my story sounds acquainted, you know the way I felt. I can’t lie, it was tough to be excited for the rave; it was one thing I’d by no means performed earlier than. My nerves and nervousness received the very best of me — and absolutely parting with these emotions wasn’t easy. The shiny aspect: This is one thing you’ll be able to work on! Here are some good beginning factors and suggestions I realized as an authorized overthinker, worrier, and devoted lover who feared their breakup with their consolation zone:

Start small and go little by little

Let me be clear: You don’t have to black out on the membership or velocity recklessly on the freeway to recover from your driving nervousness — don’t leap the gun. Start with what feels snug, then add one thing new! If public talking exhibits up in your nightmares, observe speaking in entrance of an in depth good friend who provides you with strong suggestions. Are you a sofa potato on the weekends? Go to the theater with a good friend for a matinee exhibiting! That’s the mindset I delivered to the rave. Having been to live shows earlier than, I knew the vitality, the crowds, and the expertise — so I figured this may be related. If this had been a type of raves the place it’s a must to situation your physique or take your water in a CamelBak, I’d have kindly declined.

Go with somebody you’ll be able to depend on 

It’s arduous to divulge heart’s contents to simply anybody. However, telling somebody that you simply’re antsy will make the entire expertise a bit simpler. Having somebody you’ll be able to depend on all the time makes uncomfortable issues as snug as they are often! Before going to the rave, I made positive to let my good friend in on how I used to be feeling. I knew she’d perceive, and that’s why we laid our floor guidelines earlier than we walked in. For the document, I don’t remorse that ear muffle or my aching ft; in spite of everything, it’s solely short-term — and so is your overthinking. 

Most importantly, steadiness is vital

I all the time have my nightly tea and my favourite sitcom enjoying within the background. Still, I’ve been attempting to modify it up a bit, and it’s a good suggestion for everybody to do the identical. You can nonetheless have your nights in, however do your self a favor and stay somewhat! Now, would I am going to a rave each weekend? Absolutely not — my psychological and bodily well being couldn’t take it. While I’m nonetheless engaged on reaching that steadiness, this was a step in the proper path. 

If you’ve gathered something from my time on the rave, it’s in all probability that I had a lot of enjoyable. I’m positive you’ve heard individuals say that the anticipation main as much as one thing is worse than the factor itself — and I worry they’re proper. While within the second, the other could seem true, it’ll by no means truly be as unhealthy as you’re anticipating. After all, it’s you versus your mind, and also you’ve positively received that one within the bag.