7 Things Nervous People Hate About New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a night filled with crowds of people, enclosed spaces, and waiting... so in other words, New Year's Eve is a person with anxiety's worst nightmare. If you suffer from anxiety, you're not alone. In fact, you're actually just like 40 million other adults in the United States. So just when you begin to think you're the only one who gets nervous over-pondering about December 31st, remember that NYE sucks for 18 percent of the U.S. population, not just you. We may not be the majority, but we've got numbers.

People who have anxiety have a tendency to overthink things, so when we're thinking ahead to New Year's Eve, there's a lot for us to consider... and that alone can be more than overwhelming. While a normal person can just "go with the flow," we can't. We actually spend most of the night going against "the flow," because we're in fear that "the flow" will lead to some epic and horrific impending doom. It's not that we're dramatic (well...), it's just that we worry about every little thing. From the outfit we're wearing to the potential claustrophobia headed our way, I hate to say it, but sometimes holidays just suck, and New Year's Eve is one of them. Here are some reasons why.

1. The Choosing of an Outfit

Let's start with the details: clothing choices. While this aspect of NYE is beyond fun for some women (sparkly cocktail dresses, anyone?), it's a whole other thing for anxiety-ridden worriers. Will I be over dressed? Will I be underdressed? Is everyone going to be staring at me because I'm wearing sequins? Will I be cold all night? Will I overheat if I bring my coat? Will I have to carry my coat around all night? Will my feet get sore if I wear heels? Will I look like a loser if I show up in flats? Ugh... it just doesn't end.

2. The Type of Party

Parties are fun when they consist of a limited number of close friends sitting on the couch, sipping on cocktails, and playing Cards Against Humanity. Parties are not fun when they are full strangers stumbling over furniture, throwing back shots, and dancing to a bumped-up stereo system under a blacklight. So, you know, NYE parties may be a little much for people with anxiety. Just saying.

3. The Unavoidable Crowds

What's worse than a tiny, heated apartment filled with people you don't know? Nothing! What's worse than being packed on the street (literally barred in) with people you don't know? Nothing! What's worse than a bar filled with loud, drunk, overly excited adults? Nothing! Anxious folks can't catch a break no matter where they go on New Year's Eve.

4. The Drunk People Everywhere

Look, nervous people like to have fun too, but New Year's Eve is notorious for bringing out drunk revelers en masse, and that? That terrifies us. Like it terrifies us.

5. The People Who Are In Love Everywhere

Love is great and, depending on who you are, love on New Year's Eve is even greater! But when nervous people see their friends coupling up as the clock ticks ever closer to midnight, oh man you kind of feel like you're at the middle school dance all over again chilling out solo by the overly supervised punch bowl. Should you kiss the person you're with? Will they interpret that kiss to mean more than it is? Should you kiss a stranger? Who says you have to kiss anyone anyway? Will people notice if you're the only one pairing up with another glass of champagne instead of another human? WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

6. The Extra Long Wait

When you suffer from anxiety, you like to have an emergency exit from anything you're doing. On New Year's Eve, that's not really an option. The point of the night is to stay up until midnight, which means you can't leave your anxiety-inducing party until the ball drops, so to speak. We like our freedom, and the fact that we don't really have it on NYE is pretty irksome.

7. The Impending Countdown

Ten, nine, eight... who am I going to kiss!?!?!?..... seven, six, five ....... oh God, everyone is pairing up around me ..... four, three, two...... I think I'm going to faint. Countdowns seem to trigger something urgent and impending. We don't like those kinds of feelings.

Images: Fifer Janis/Flickr, Giphy (7)