Do you also go trough this?

Stoochy

Member
hello people,

I would like to know if you guys also have this sort of thing.
its very hard to explain, but I think/know that this is the hardest part of the SA for me. Its that you just cant focus on anything when somebody is near you especially when their looking at you. ike when youre at a mcdonalds or something and you got to order,and you just cant look at the menu above because the employee is looking at you. So you just order something that you probably didnt want in the first place. What i dont understand is that im not afraid of the person but i just go cookoo when tjhat happens,and of course this takes place everywhere you go. I just cant read a book or something when im in the train if someone is sitting near me. And i keep checking if he or her is looking at me.

when I explain this to the psychologist they dont quite understand this,and keep asking if im afraid of them ,or that im afraid of the m harming me. but that isnt the case! i dont have any thoughts when this happens it just happens. And i just dont know how this has started in my life.

And when i read about SA this is never mentioned..

Do you guys have any similar experience?
 

Richey

Well-known member
its because you rush into making yourself or forcing yourself to come across as confident, so you lose control and a little concentration ..

and you dont want to dissapoint so your mouth just says whatever comes first, rather then waht's really in your heart at the time..

even if you have to stare into space and regain composure to think freely, do it, just be yourself ..if you wanted to order a specific food, dont forget thats the reason you are going there, the staff are there to help you, just smile and ask about the day ..

i can relate to what you described though, ive been through it, where i'll intend to buy groceries and come out with different items, i wont question if i thnk the price is wrong, i just walk out and then i think "heyyy, wait a minute" ..
 

Stoochy

Member
i dont know but my eyes are fighting to look at the menu. but my eyes are driven to look at the person who s watching me.

its also when for example i go to the supermarket and i m at the counter/cash desk and there's somebody behind me in line ,or next to me,i cant look at the counterlady or at my groceries or at something else without gioing crazy and fighting my eyes to focus,but i just cant ,i have to watch everything around me,especially if its someonewho is looking at me..

Damn i find this so hard to explain..thats why Im very afraid that i wont find a cure or help for this sjhit.
 

footballfan

Well-known member
It's funny you mention this, cause I work at mcdonalds, and I have the feelings you mentioned, when I order food. So whenever I'm at work, and a customer arives but doesn't order straight away, I purposely look everywhere except the customer, so they don't feel wierd! lol

Just thought I'd say anywayz
 
Are you over breathing or controlling your breathing patterns in any way?
That lowers the carbon dioxide concentration in your blood below normal and can cause the same symptoms you are describing.
 

Rodox

Well-known member
Happens to me also,to much adrenaline,it triggers the "Fight-or-flight"response and I want to get the hell out of there,its worst if somebody is just standing doing nothing but staring at me.
 

Stoochy

Member
shinji_ikari said:
Are you over breathing or controlling your breathing patterns in any way?
That lowers the carbon dioxide concentration in your blood below normal and can cause the same symptoms you are describing.

Yeah i gues I am almost stop breathing and my stomach gets very blown instantly.. but i think its a cause effect of the the tension.
 

Stoochy

Member
Rodox said:
Happens to me also,to much adrenaline,it triggers the "Fight-or-flight"response and I want to get the hell out of there,its worst if somebody is just standing doing nothing but staring at me.

Yeah I think its the same as me..But do you have any certain thoughts when this happens or before it happens?
 
...

OMg yeah that happens to me. My sister gave a piece of paper to order a lot of stuff for her in mc donalds and i gave it to the cashier lady and she thought i couldn't speak. So she started making signs to me and then i spoke and she just looked at me lol.
 

tpdarlo

Well-known member
This is something you need to practise. Focus on the menu, and when your brain wanders back to "the employee is staring at me", focus harder on the menu. Keep doing this - when the thought tries to take over you tell it to go away. Train your mind not to wander enough and you will develop a strong concentration, and this will help you a lot.
 

recluse

Well-known member
I can relate to the Mcdonalds thing. Everyone else seem to know straight away what they want and they order quickly and i stand there for what seems like an age, and i feel as if i am slowing everyone else down, who are standing in the qeue and also the person who is taking orders. I feel as if the person who is taking the order will get angry because i am slowing them down o'r something. I remember once i felt so embarassed i let someone go in front of me so i could make a decision.

Another thing is when paying for something and i feel as if i can't count my small change and i am scared that people will get angry at me for slowing them down, so sometimes i pay with a notes even though i have enough small change. I end up with a wallet full of small change which weighs a ton because of this.
 

_Brittany_

Well-known member
Try looking at the menu and deciding what you want before you get in line to oder..that's what I always do. It's faster that way.
 

shield

Well-known member
Yep been through this countless times. It is only the effect of high anxiety levels causing you to become disorientated.
 

Darkened

Active member
Damn, I was at a McDonald's for the first time with my family. The moment I entered the building I wanted go right back! :? I hate those places crowded with young people, but I had no choice.
I'm really really picky with food, there is a lot of things I don't like and McDonalds have almost all of them... together! :roll:
I just asked for those chicken things... ("Mcnuggets" or whatever), so I eat almost nothing, which is normal when I'm in this situations, although I was hungry. Everyone at my family knows that I'm picky so they were asking all the time:
"and you, what you gonna take?"
"only that?!... How about "that"?... How about "this"?

I was so close to loose my temper.... ("Good Lord, shut the f### up!" 8O I only want this! :evil:) It would be very rude and I only would get more attention, because there is allways poeple around listening and I was already suspicious.

Some of us took the meals and seated some place in the middle of the building. Plus, the seats postition was horrible!
People everywhere and pressure was almost at my maximum. While the rest of the family were still chossing the food, I just eated the damn "chicken things" and water and said: "there is no room for all, so I'm gonna wait outside, since I already finished".
I think I spent only two minutes seated. And previous 3 at the qeue.

I really hope that was the first and last time at that dump. I can't take more than 5 minutes inside. I really can't. :roll: No decent food, horrible seats and young crowd + employes. (explosive SP mix alert).
 
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