There are various reasons why “people feel suffocated in a crowded place” which to me are very understandable. I don’t like crowded places. A person could be claustrophobic (I am). Being in a crowd isn’t much different than being in an enclosed place. A person could be agoraphobic (fear of the market place)—just not enjoying being away from the safety of home as a general rule but even more fearful of being in a crowd. Could you imagine having a panic attack in a crowd and not feeling able to get away? A person could be afraid of germs. There are rational reasons to be afraid. People have been trampled to death in crowds. Riots can start.
