Social Anxiety

OMG! I totally know how you feel! I’m glad I’m not the only one. I freak out when I have to go to the gym or anywhere. I hate going by myself.

I’m with you especially on the phone call thing. I’ve gotten much better about being in public. HGUS. You’re awesome!

I know how you feel hun. I know I should try some new things but its hard to get over those feelings or getting other people to understand. Hope all works out, take care hun. And on a side note, if I saw you in the bread aisle I’d be like, damn, wish I could get me some of that. 😉

I’m proud of you! I don’t think I’d be able to do it…. Anxiety blows chunks.

For sake of gym, I go to a 24-hour-fitness in the middle of the night to avoid similar anxieties. I know the feeling. It feels like everyone is staring at you and judging you, judging you negatively because you aren’t worth it to them, and it’s generally a terrible goddamned feeling, even though what they think doesn’t matter, and what you think they think matters even less. It sucks.

I’ve always been the same way. I’m a lot better now but most of it is because I’m better at hiding/coping than I used to be. And you’re right, those who don’t have it don’t understand just how hard it is for us to do things that are simple and normal for other people.

I’m scared of public places too, and I have no idea why.

Ryn: I think I could do some e-mail internet referal thing that’d let you get it a bit cheaper (and of course get me a free month) if you’re interested. I am offering this for purely selfish reasons, though. How much do you pay for the gym you’re at now? 24-hour does a monthly fee, so how often you plan to go is important in the consideration.

I have had this fight with my husband before. He is in the military so he is REALLY good at just blending and being around a bunch of people. I get hot and irritated and feel like my head is going to blow up. I am better about it now but he still gets irritated sometimes when I start getting nervous in a crowd. I have been going to the gym since June and I still have moments that I haveto sit in the parking lot for a few minutes and psyche myself up. I just bought some workout clothes that actually hug my body and show my most hated spots and it has been really hard for me to walk in and workout like that. I just act like I’m hot shit, LOL! Just remember, though – men are much less critical than we are! Just because we think we are a gooey mess doesn’t mean they do! Plus, when I am working out I look at everyone but I don’t really judge them. Usually I am too busy trying to remain upright and breathe!!

*hug* I’m sure you’re always cute.

Wow…I think this is the first time you’ve ever written about your social anxiety. I had no idea. I take it you’re not a big fan of homeschooling!!

i am the same way! and you know what the scarey thing is the conversations i have in my head are better than the ones in real life

it will be ok!! social anxiety is partly why i go to a girls gym!! and there are totally girls bigger than me there and it makes me feel better but also i like seeing skinny people at the gym cause it makes me think they have to work hard to stay skinny. good luck!

This is me too. I am a lot better with it than I used to be because I’ve trained myself to know and feel that these people are not thinking anything about me. And then I tell myself “Why do you think these people are all paying attention to you, they can care less about me, they have their own issues, they probably think I am looking at them” and believe it or not, that thought helps me.

ryn – I know! It’s such a money making scam. You know, tax discs are a load of shit anyway – the police KNOW which cars have tax and which don’t – you don’t need a sticker in your window to prove it. Rawr!

i know what you mean. i have to talk myself into going to the gym too. I always stay on the elliptical which is in the last row against the wall so i can see everyone. there is no way i could work out with people staring right at me. i’m deathly afraid of trying new machines and looking like an idiot. i think the more you go, you’ll start to get a little more comfortable.

I understand the social anxiety completely – the idea of going to a gym on my own would scare me silly, actually. As would going to the cinema on my own, or asking for a table for one in a restaurant (the shame!), and so on. I’m always scared people will judge me on what I buy in shops. I can’t shop where I work – I get paranoid about buying my lunch in store. In case they’re thinking stuff.

I don’t knwo what stuff, just stuff. ‘Wow, Nick’s got a freaking chicken fetish’ or whatever. I know it’s ridiculous, but I can’t help it. But do you know what, you might be acting ‘normal’, but the important part is that you still do things despite the fear – that is strong. It makes you stronger than everyone who can just do it without worrying.

I know how you feel I am like that. In my case its called Sociophobia. It can take many forms differing between men and women. Trouble with me I sometimes have panic attacks because of Sociophobia started in my young days by an over protective mother I dont think you have panic attacks though Only very few people know whats happening and Blow u off Men even tough its annoying stare a girls Me to

I understand this… I sometimes wish I could get a big black cape to cover my whole body so no one would be able to see me… Then they came out with the snuggie, which is kind of how I imagined it, only with a hood and the opening at the front. How retarded is that? LOL…

RYN: Yeaaaaaaaaaa it is!! x x

pretend like I do!!!!!!!!!!

i do understand what you mean. there’s times where i’m in a certain situation and i feel like i’m going to my first day of kindergarten and i need someone to take me by the hand and tell me what to do because i don’t know anybody else. haha. josh is all like “what’s wrong with you!?” and i’m all like “i can’t HELP it!” haha. *sigh* it’s difficult to have confidence in a new place.

I know exactly how you feel. It’s something I still have to work on…I do know that the more you do these things the better it gets.

Yep, totally know how you feel. My anxiety is so bad that I literally can go for hours at school without saying a word. It’s like I want to, but I can’t. People who don’t have social anxiety have no way of empathizing with those who do, and we’re always misunderstood. People assume I’m a bitch, and that I think I’m better than everyone else; even though that’s farthestfrom the truth. But because I’m so socially awkward it’s hard to show them this.

You can do it girl. I hate doing things on my own too. I like to have someone there.

Take the attention as a compliment! You probably look a lot hotter than you think you do.

I do too, but I can MAKE myself do it… it is like acting.

The gym is definitely the worst place to go in order to avoid stares. Everyone is a critic or a perv. I always laugh at the old men on the hunt for a quick glimpse of camel toe. They love it. The irony? Everyone in the gym is a voyeur and everyone in the changing rooms is an exhibitionist. It’s a nightmare. I also hate those perfect people looking down on those not quite as ripped or spandex clad.

i think ive got a little form of social anxiety sometimes, not all the time. It’s weird but I know how u feel. I wont go to the gym cause i know i’ll be looked at and i hate that. Yuck. anyways hope tonight goes by smoothly and u dont feel so afraid.

Totally unrelated! But I totally understand now how you feel about filling out the divorce papers! I want and got the paperwork today so I can file mine finally! Oh man I swear they want a novel!!