Social Anxiety as a Pedestrian

[BlueOysterCultFan96]

Hello. On this thread I wanted to discuss anxiety while walking out in public. I spent most of my early years growing up in the city and we often walked places or used public transportation. To this day, I live in a small town and I walk to and from the bus stop for school, I walk to and from work, and I walk to the store whenever I want a snack or whatever. Anyway, alot of times when I would walk, I would have cars drive by and honk when I did not even know the people who are honking (this used to make me jump, but I expect it now and don't do it anymore), I have had strangers shout insults at me, and a week ago some <censored> threw a handful of those paper popper things at my feet as they drove by. I yelled some swear names at this person, which probably was a bad idea because they probably wanted a reaction. If I see a group of 2 or more people approaching me as I walk, I will cross the street usually because in my experiences, people get brave and may try to harass me because they might think it's funny to do that with friends. When I walk, I always wear my ipod to block off noises and so that loud noises are not as loud, and I don't get startled, lol. I also clench one of my fists alot too in order to relieve stress. I buy my co-workers drinks if they leave work the same time as me as payment for them driving me home, lol. Anyway, I want to know if anyone else shares the same anxiety as I have in regard to walking out in public , how you deal with the anxiety, and what experiences you've had as a pedestrian.

 

[dottie]

yes, this. i hate walking in the street and being subject to harrassment. people are animals.

 

[Kiwong]

This used to be a big problem for me. At high school people used to follow behind me and tease my walk, they called me monkey man. It was a kind of homophobic bullying. For many many years I was was unable to walk if anyone was following me in case they would tease me.

About ten years ago, I had a series of panic attacks, and I started to feel very unwell. I forgot all about my silly walk, I was more worried about not dieing. Then I hurt my knee a for three year I walked with knee pain.

Somehow I rebuilt my knee, and am running half marathons. I don't worry about the way I walk anymore. My anxiety now manifests itself in other annoying ways.

 

[Paahi]

Yes this happens to me too.
I don't have a car so i always walk or take public transportation.
It is sad that some people think its fun to do such things to others.

 

[MrJones]

It happens to me too. It seems like when people are in groups they think it's funny to have fun with the shy unknown kid that walks down the street, looking to the ground, listening to music. "Hey, he's vulnerable of our jokes, let's make fun of him!".

 

[Road to recovery]

Edited Message

 

[JohnnyJohnW]

When I see a group of people I change to the other side of the sidewalk and I try to not look at them. It's horrible when someone makes fun of you on the street.

 

[Hastings & Main]

I used to have this problem as well. My slogan used to be, "Happiness is an empty sidewalk.", with a minor jolt of anxiety zapping me when a figure appeared many blocks away, coming towards me.

The thing is, you attract more attention to yourself by avoiding someone else than when you acknowledge their presence. What I used to do (mostly through instinct), and see others do with me on occasion - I'm guessing they have SA - was jerk my head away in the opposite direction as we pass, dart my eyes elsewhere, suddenly become fascinated by a blowing scrap of paper on the ground as if it were a $10,000 bill.

But this just causes the other person to take extra notice, since they immediately thing there's something wrong with you, or - if they're more sensitive - that there's something wrong with them, that they aren't good enough for even your basest acknowledgement.

The 'normal' thing to do is keep a neutral expression, look at your surroundings, and just as he/she/they pass, a look at their face and maybe a slight smile or nod and you're done.

 

[Road to recovery]

Edited Message

 

[goldatom]

Maybe start driving yourself. Or ignore them. Or move to Europe (I've heard they aren't this arrogant with pedestrians/cyclists).

 

[BlueOysterCultFan96]

It happens to me too. It seems like when people are in groups they think it's funny to have fun with the shy unknown kid that walks down the street, looking to the ground, listening to music. "Hey, he's vulnerable of our jokes, let's make fun of him!".

Absolutely, some people get brave when they're with 1 or more other people and will try to get their rocks off if they see a lone person. Oddly, that never happens when it's a single person. In a sense, it doesn't bother me if people do that with others because it shows they don't have enough motivation to do it on their own.

 

[BlueOysterCultFan96]

This used to be a big problem for me. At high school people used to follow behind me and tease my walk, they called me monkey man. It was a kind of homophobic bullying. For many many years I was was unable to walk if anyone was following me in case they would tease me.

About ten years ago, I had a series of panic attacks, and I started to feel very unwell. I forgot all about my silly walk, I was more worried about not dieing. Then I hurt my knee a for three year I walked with knee pain.

Somehow I rebuilt my knee, and am running half marathons. I don't worry about the way I walk anymore. My anxiety now manifests itself in other annoying ways.

I get that, sometimes if I'm nervous or there's alot of traffic, I walk kind of weird. I don't know how to describe it, it seems as though I would appear to be concentrating and trying too hard on my walking from someone else's point of view. Congratulations on getting your knee back in good condition and doing marathons

 

[BlueOysterCultFan96]

Good, thank you for the responses everyone! Keep them coming