I've always called out of my house outside, that scary place where other people are: the real world. I get anxiety attacks outside and when I do, I don't find being with people easy, and I feel everyone is looking at me, even when I know they aren't. Luckilly though sometimes I am OK with being with other people and cope quite well with the place that is outside. When I am extremely anxious though it is a kind of hell. I've never really got to grips with this, and have only recently owned up to it fully. I'm 49 but autism explains so much about me.