Do any of you get anxious talking on the internet?

[Meowza]

...This is probably gonna sound crazy, but I get pretty anxious when chatting on the internet - in fact I usually avoid it altogether unless I've had something to calm me down.
There's a chatsite I go on regularly, but it's not as easy these days, I used to drink a lot to deal with the anxiety so never had any problems then, but I gave up drinking a year ago and now it's getting kinda hard. Am ok right now as I've had some Pregabalin, but tolerance builds up to that stuff so fast I just can't take it every day...
Anyone else have similar problems? I'm ok talking to people I've known a while btw

 

[Meowza]

Just me then...?

 

[punklove]

Nope when it comes to chatrooms I can't go on them.

 

[SilverRain]

I don't think it's crazy in the slightest, I feel exactly the same way.
Online has always been easier for me than face-to-face conversation, but when it gets down to it it's still another living person on the other end, a person that we're all too aware has opinions, potential judgement, an impression of us that we feel we have to live up to, (often) superior social and conversational skill and eventually it can get to a point where you feel so far out of your depth that you just resort to lurking instead. This has certainly been true in my personal experience, so I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. I'm at my absolute worst with instant messengers though and haven't touched them in years because of an intense fear of 10 or 11 flashing tabs all demanding a response I can't give, at the exact same time. Most uncomfortable computer experience ever, for me.

 

[Meowza]

Nope when it comes to chatrooms I can't go on them.

Awwww not good :/ Mind if I add you on MSN?

 

[Meowza]

I don't think it's crazy in the slightest, I feel exactly the same way.
Online has always been easier for me than face-to-face conversation, but when it gets down to it it's still another living person on the other end, a person that we're all too aware has opinions, potential judgement, an impression of us that we feel we have to live up to, (often) superior social and conversational skill and eventually it can get to a point where you feel so far out of your depth that you just resort to lurking instead. This has certainly been true in my personal experience, so I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. I'm at my absolute worst with instant messengers though and haven't touched them in years because of an intense fear of 10 or 11 flashing tabs all demanding a response I can't give, at the exact same time. Most uncomfortable computer experience ever, for me.

Yeah that can get scary... I'm actually no different wether I've had anything to calm me or not, people can't tell the difference but I can kinda feel the difference, y'know? Doesn't make any sense I know... good to know it's not just me, though you know I wouldn't wish this on anyone

 

[Confuseddd]

Not so much the internet , since it is so impersonal, but the phone. I sometimes done know when its my turn to speak, and i end up saying something RIGHT as the other person does. Then i get wicked anxious and end up just trying to get off the phone quicker.

 

[Meowza]

Not so much the internet , since it is so impersonal, but the phone. I sometimes done know when its my turn to speak, and i end up saying something RIGHT as the other person does. Then i get wicked anxious and end up just trying to get off the phone quicker.

I get like that on the phone too, but my mind goes totally blank and can't find a way to end the call grrrrrr but if it's someone I know well, it's usually not so bad

 

[Confuseddd]

I get like that on the phone too, but my mind goes totally blank and can't find a way to end the call grrrrrr but if it's someone I know well, it's usually not so bad

Even when i know the person... Thats when its the worst for me, because then i feel so much pressure not to show im anxious so they wont know. I hate it because the friends that do know i have anxiety issues always know my signs that im feeling anxious. I feel like i let em down because there supposed to be my friends yet i still feel uncomfortable around them.

 

[Anti Matter]

I find it hard to talk face to face more than anything. I refuse to adjust to someones personality type. If I don't like them, I don't like them. Even if I do like the person I still find it difficult to communicate and always think they will dislike my personality even though theirs is probably similar to mine. Strange.

On the internet though, I don't really have a problem.

 

[Meowza]

Even when i know the person... Thats when its the worst for me, because then i feel so much pressure not to show im anxious so they wont know. I hate it because the friends that do know i have anxiety issues always know my signs that im feeling anxious. I feel like i let em down because there supposed to be my friends yet i still feel uncomfortable around them.

Awww you shouldn't have to feel that way, most of my friends know I have anxiety probs and you'd be surprised how understanding some people can be

 

[Confuseddd]

Awww you shouldn't have to feel that way, most of my friends know I have anxiety probs and you'd be surprised how understanding some people can be

yeah, i got one friend, my best friend who understands. He doesnt judge me he just helps me. I rarely feel anxious around him anymore

 

[Meowza]

yeah, i got one friend, my best friend who understands. He doesnt judge me he just helps me. I rarely feel anxious around him anymore

Hey that's great to hear I love being right lol

 

[SilverRain]

Yeah that can get scary... I'm actually no different wether I've had anything to calm me or not, people can't tell the difference but I can kinda feel the difference, y'know? Doesn't make any sense I know... good to know it's not just me, though you know I wouldn't wish this on anyone

No it makes perfect sense, don't worry. Some people are just really good at displaying a calmer exterior even when their inner thoughts/feelings are anything but. I actually really wish I was like that myself, since I tend to have a hard time hiding any of my own nervousness and I'm much too easy to read. And I getcha. It's normal to want to know others can connect so you're not alone there. We all know what you meant, so no worries.

Not so much the internet , since it is so impersonal, but the phone. I sometimes done know when its my turn to speak, and i end up saying something RIGHT as the other person does. Then i get wicked anxious and end up just trying to get off the phone quicker.

Phones are of the devil, I swear. Especially when the other person is a really talkative sort and you're desperate to get away, but can't without risking offending them. The part that gets to me the most is the fact that you can't use expressions or gestures to help you communicate, and in turn can't tell what they're making of your input from their expressions either. This can be pretty tough to handle, for those of us who require a lot of feedback for peace of mind. It's entirely left up to the use of your voice, putting us more timid folk at a huge disadvantage. And those moments of silence when nobody speaks at all are almost unbearable. >.<

 

[Confuseddd]

Phones are of the devil, I swear. Especially when the other person is a really talkative sort and you're desperate to get away, but can't without risking offending them. The part that gets to me the most is the fact that you can't use expressions or gestures to help you communicate, and in turn can't tell what they're making of your input from their expressions either. This can be pretty tough to handle, for those of us who require a lot of feedback for peace of mind. It's entirely left up to the use of your voice, putting us more timid folk at a huge disadvantage. And those moments of silence when nobody speaks at all are almost unbearable. >.<

oh my god i know what you mean. Almost had a panic attack during a silence on the phone once. I had absolutely no clue what to do during that silence lol. God, funny thinking about it now i guess alittle, but holy crap that was a scary experience.

 

[SilverRain]

Gosh I don't blame you, they can be pretty brutal sometimes. As much as I find eye contact difficult, I'm actually more likely to take a walk to the place and confront the person face to face, rather than attempting to contact them by phone. Sounds odd, but it's the lesser of the evils for me, in one-on-one scenarios anyway.

 

[Meowza]

As much as I hate phones, I'd be lost without mine... I gotta sleep, nice to meet you two

 

[SilverRain]

It was nice to meet you too. :3

 

[slowmotiondaydream]

i feel it when i need to 'impress' someone online. this is coming from someone that had a 3yr internet relationship.. who left me for someone else. but still talks to me frequently. i'm always anxious to talk to her because i want her to change her mind and try with me again ^^