fear seeing someone you know out in public

Winter

Active member
When I go out to town or out in public, I have this fear that I'm gonna see someone I know who I haven't seen for years or just one of my friends or something, and that I'll go red when I see them..like they'll recognise me and say hi or something. idk, I think it's just the shock of someone just coming up to me out of the blue.

familiar?
 

cobalt_bluester

Well-known member
yes, i have had these feelings to and it's all part of having social anxiety. When I go out I find it difficult to make eye contact with anybody and especially when I am feeling particularly down in the dump i.e. every day or thereabouts!
 

xSleepy

Well-known member
Holy Crap, that sounds just like me, lol. but i really just have a fear of running into someone i used to know or running into family memebers who i dont like, but i also try to avoid places where i think they'll be.
for example: i was totally in love with this guy at my school but he was a HUGE jerk. biggest jerk ive ever met. and me being extremley shy and stuff, he would make fun of me and really make me feel bad about myself. so anyways, i somehow found out where he lived and ive been avoiding that 5 mile radius for the past few years. is that crazy or what?? its a stupid fear, an un-realistic fear. this guy might not even live in the city anymore or even the state. but i still dont want to go over there cause i have a fear of running into him.

but i think i have a more bigger fear of someone who i dont know at all just coming up to me and talking to me. it just makes me uncomfortable when people do that. i have a fear that there gonna hurt me in some way, like try to rob me or kidnap me. or even just ask for my number. i just dont like random people coming up to me, its weird.
 

Foxglove

Well-known member
I go to great lengths to avoid meeting someone I know. Like, if I'm in a store, or down town, or wherever, I will immediately change direction if they haven't noticed me yet. And, it always seems that I run into people I know when I am looking particulary terrible -- no make up on, bad hair day, etc., which makes me feel even more awkward and uncomfortable.
 

kyle

Banned
I used to always have this fear. It was one of my worst fears to see someone I knew and hadn't talked to in a year or so. Although once I started taking meds at 16, it virtually disappeared.
 

sab_07

Member
Foxglove said:
I go to great lengths to avoid meeting someone I know. Like, if I'm in a store, or down town, or wherever, I will immediately change direction if they haven't noticed me yet. And, it always seems that I run into people I know when I am looking particulary terrible -- no make up on, bad hair day, etc., which makes me feel even more awkward and uncomfortable.

same here!
 

JBI

Member
Ha, I'm such a loser when it comes to seeing people that I know in public. I either try to avoid them, or I stare at them debating whether or not I should say 'hi' to them.

Even when I'm walking down the hall at school and I see the guy that I like (and he knows I like him), I try not to look at him so that he thinks I didn't see him and I can get away without saying 'hi.' But I am pretty proud of myself for letting him know how I feel about him. :D
 

blue

Well-known member
I hate it when you see some one you know walking towards you and you carnt avoid them!

I had this today ,I kept looking at the floor until they were really close (otherwise id have been walking up to them looking loke this 8O )
Then said a really awkward hi and beat myself up fpr ages after wards for being pathetic :roll:
 

edbrasil

New member
this is kinda the same for me, im a very very social person, lots of friends and love social events but its kinda weird when i go to the mall with my parents, being i live in a ver small town, i get so embarased when i see one of my friends and they see me with my parents, this also hapens when i just got a haircut, but on that occasion it doesnt matter if im with my parents or not
 

bird

Member
Ditto!

Hey Winter! That has been my worst fear for 8-9 years now! It all started when i bumped into an old pal and i had this panic on and said something really stupid as my mind had gone blank and i was so hot and felt i was a bleasher beakon!Ever since iavoid shopping centre's unless im feeling particularly confident,i avoid supermarkets,sometimes im at work and i avoid eye contact as i can't cope with the smalltalk! Its horrible and i so want to be 'normal' and just be like my mates. have faith though as you can see your not alone. :lol:
 
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