Anxiety or Narcissism ?

[whysoserious?]

Whenever im at the cinema or any situation where people are seated behind and around me i get nervous. I prefer to have my back against the wall so i can see everyone, rather than being in front. (the front row would be a death sentence lol)

So my question is why do i feel like this, am i just anxious or very self centered ? I know that the people sat behind me wont be talking about me or even looking at the back of my head but i feel like they are. Theres nothing different or strange about the back of my head, maybe the brain inside it is a bit dodgy. Hmmm

 

[chained]

ur not self centered it's the anxiety definately

 

[Helyna]

I'm pretty sure all social anxiety has to do with self-importance. We think everyone looks at us and spends brain power thinking about us! Come on! So I'm guessing we're all narcissistic to some extent.

 

[Noca]

I get told all I think about is myself all the time.

 

[Hellhound]

If you were self centered, you wouldn't mind people sitting near you and you'd probably want them to look at you Your case looks like the opposite.

 

[Hellhound]

I'm pretty sure all social anxiety has to do with self-importance. We think everyone looks at us and spends brain power thinking about us! Come on! So I'm guessing we're all narcissistic to some extent.

But narcissistic people are confident and they probably don't mind people looking at them, and will maybe look for that. But in this case it's insecuriry and fear, some people feeling bad with themselves at the point of believing that everybody will think the same. The image that most of us have of ourselves is bad and we are insecure. It's the total opposite to narcissism, in my opinion.

 

[dooby-duck]

I like to position myself so that I can see everything and everyone, and so I can make a quick exit if I need to. I think it adds to the feeling of control over the situation.

 

[whysoserious?]

I dunno, some good points made (cheers everyone). Its just everytime it happens i start thinkin thier looking at me, talking about me etc ... Then i start an internal argument in my head why would they be looking at me, whats so important about me, why do you think you are blah blah blah .... So i cant win either way, best to stay lurking at the back in the darkness lol

 

[krfoss]

Hey there. Sounds like your feeling is coming from anxiety rather than narcissism. While you prefer the end result be the wall to your back, when you face the consequence of not getting your way the reaction is anxiety, rather than frustration or irritation that you arent getting way. Often times anxiety is masked by narcissism.

 

[FountainandFairfax]

I feel the same way about movie theaters, which is why when I do go to movies, I go in the middle of the week at the latest possible time. Then I'm usually the only one in the place and can relax and enjoy the movie.

We are self centered, but who isn't concerned about themselves when they think something bad is about to happen to them? I don't think it's narcissism, it's more like a sense of self-preservation involuntarily turned-up to eleven.

 

[whysoserious?]

I feel the same way about movie theaters, which is why when I do go to movies, I go in the middle of the week at the latest possible time. Then I'm usually the only one in the place and can relax and enjoy the movie

Yeah im the same, the only time i managed to get a whole cinema to my self was a mid week early morning showing of Let The Right One In. I nearly managed it with Teeth but some people came in late >( hate that.
The worst was at the Dark Knight opening weekend, not a good idea never seen a cinema so full before. Lucky the film was that good that i was too interested in it rather than my inner voices lol