Acting robotic/stiff

[sahxox]

Hey,
So I find that if I'm feeling nervous, I tend to shut down and go all robotic. E.g. I can't think or walk with 100% fluidity like I would when relaxed.
This can be during small talk, walking in the store, being infront of strangers etc.
Which ofcourse leads to the old paranoia that everyone thinks I'm strange or whatever.
Does anyone else experience something similiar? Any tips would be great.

 

[conscious_mindz]

Hey, I experience the same things on occasion, i would become so self aware of my surroundings & self conscious that when i walked my legs would be all stiff & robotic & i would begin to count each footstep which was annoying! I also sometimes feel that my face is frozen & feels tight like all of my muscles are ceasing up i & would think that people must be thinking i'm really weird for my awkward posture & nervous facial expression etc..

I don't really have any tips as i still sometimes suffer with it, but what i try to do is distract my mind the best i can, so if i walk into a store i try & think of what shopping i need, or anything else i can think of to take my mind on how nervous i feel, also what i do is i refuse to let the nervousness get the better of me, if i walk as stiff as a robot or if im dying of fear i refuse to let it get the better of me & subconsciously my anxiety is beginning to learn that i wont let it win, so when i walk into a store now & my legs go stiff & i act nervous etc.. i say to myself " don't worry this will soon pass just let the anxiety peak for a short while then it will decrease, Then after a few mins of self relaxation talk i tend to loosen up & my legs become relaxed & i can feel my facial expressions coming back into my face.

All i can suggest is no matter how bad it gets, tell the anxiety that you are not going anywhere & that you are in control no matter how awkward you feel or look you just have to stay in that situation long enough until your body & mind learns to relax, then after a while it will get easier. I used to suffer badly with this, but now when i get the symptoms i know they will subside after a short while & it is gradually getting better overtime, good luck

 

[R3K]

i practice doing natural-looking gestures... shifting body weight from one leg to another. put a hand halfway into one pocket. roll my neck. comb my hand through my hair (unless it's gelled into place). stroke my go-tee.

it's weird, but doing these simple things takes the mind off the nervousness a little.

 

[mikebird]

I exhibit direct actions in public, showing nervousness. Marching around and rushing between people, with a destination im mind. The public seem to move the speed of a snail, so that's natural? Shop window and aisle browsing.

I mirror what I've learnt in eye and head movement. Gazing at one person and then the next in meetings.

I want a world without QUESTIONS. Interrogation is against my grain. I prefer the CB radio "over, over-and-out"; constant turn-taking has structure. I tend to 'step on people's feet' because I truncate their announcements and add comments, when it's relevant to exactly what they say.

My world would be talking about myself, and everyone else doing that. Prying someone's privacy with personal questions is terrible. Normal society. I want to be respected and taken seriously. Nobody listens. "I don't answer the questions" is what I get accused of. No point is asking a domesticated cat "the size of a Boeing 747"

I have plenty to say. The ultimate intruder on first encounter says "we want to know all about you" I feel: "shut up and listen!" to their callcentre operative or in a meeting

I can't comprehend the hate I suffer when I speak to help and explain anything relevant. Fingers-in-ears, hands-in hands, or the equivalent 'pppffff'
is what I receive. Not the same as everyone else. I thrive on differences. It's all I've enjoyed in live.

Let's say where crime comes in. A new experience is the time to compromise. That's my word.

All win / all lose, or interesting outcomes, all round...

 

[spider04]

Yes, but I'm not sure what tips to give you. I like to put my hands in my pocket or instead of having my bag on my shoulder I walk around with it in my hands. I don't know but it helps me.

 

[jaim38]

This is one of my biggest problems. Whenever I'm in a large crowded place, I stiffen up and move like a robot. It also happens when an awkward song (like a highly erotic song) comes on the radio/intercom which makes me feel uncomfortable. I used to walk with my head down and back bent but after people made fun of me, I stopped doing that. Walking with my head down does help alleviate the anxiety a bit because I don't have to worry about eye contact (direct or peripheral) with people. As strange as it sounds, I also used to talk a lot as a way to lessen the anxiety. I come up with random (and some inappropriate) topics to talk about even though I DON'T really want to talk about such things. It's like I become a crazy talking robot when I experience anxiety, but I don't do this anymore.

 

[cowboyup]

as others have said, hands in the pocket, shifting weight from one leg to the other...I do these as well.
Also, one thing I found helpful for me is that I chew gum. A small piece...just to keep mind busy and on something else. At least for me it works.

Good luck! I do know how you feel :thumbup:

 

[sahxox]

Thanks for the respones
I love wearing sunnies because you can avoid direct eye contact, also the gum idea does works well as a distraction.
Tomorrow I have an all-staff meeting at work (about 50 people) and I'm a little nervous... just the whole 'who do i say hi too' thing, where to sit, where to look when entering etc.
But I guess I've learnt that I can take comfort in the following;
- it's only half an hour of my life and I'm free for the rest of the day to relax
- I'll come out alive
- The meeting isn't about me
- Worrying about it won't make it go away.

Constant battle, but you learn stuff along the way.

 

[mariospap]

Shifting weight from one leg to the other is my usual motion. Sunglasses help so much. I can talk very easily to people, as they don't know where I am looking at. If I am walking in a crowded place knowing that people possibly watching at me, this makes me a human robot.
Especially in my nursing class, when I am in the lab and have 20 people + 3 professors looking at me while I am in front of the patient (doll) and watching every movement in total silence, this is total robotic and I try to speak as much as I can, so the people won't look at my hand movements in the patient.

 

[MotherWolff]

I have the robot features too.

What I do is I try to mentally self-talk to myself and remind myself that there is nothing to be afraid of and that I am stronger than my anxiety.

I hope that helps!

 

[Diend]

Just pretend you are governed by no rules...social or legal. Do whatever you want. Get drunk

 

[sahxox]

Just pretend you are governed by no rules...social or legal. Do whatever you want. Get drunk

Not sure if that was said in jest, but it's actually a brilliant idea, something I'd forgotten about pretend to be drunk/reckless and ye shall relax

 

[mmok]

Now that you mentioned it I had problems with this a few years ago.

When I walked by a group of people I obsessed over how I walked which made my stiff and robotic as you put it, same with picking up a glass and drinking from it.

The only cure is to stop thinking about it. I know its alot easier said than done, and it will take some time. I think this might be one of those fake it till you make it cases.

 

[LazyHermitCrab]

this happens to me too. the only thing that seems to help a little is beer but you can't always do that.