I have MdDS and have found that using a walking stick helps give me confidence 1) because people make allowances if that see you with a stick and 2) gives me something to hold on to all the time.

On the weekend due to sheer necessity I went to my local Asda's to do my month's shopping - alone for the first time in over 19 months. At one stage I started to get very anxious that I was going to have a bad turn so - as I don't care what people think about me - I just turned my face into the shelves and shut my eyes until I calmed myself down

I don't know how helpful this is but it worked for me

Hugs
Mandy S