Do you feel you are being observered by others for your SA

[popolala]

my SA is very obvious, so i get others observing me and its noticable they are observing me because when i do something they all turn around and look at me, for little things such as when i say something.. to a colleague, or stand up, buy something to eat at my desk, or how i react in a conversation etc...

when i feel im being observered, i get more anxious and i cannot act normal, so i actually look weird..

does the same thing happen to you? ..

 

[Ryguy2598]

Maybe it's just the "spotlight effect" You think other people are constantly observing you and watching your every move....but it's all just in you head. You're being no more observed than any other person and, if anything, less observed because you're being quiet....not some person who's getting all the attention because he's really talkative and stuff.

 

[Kiwong]

Yes. With my anxiety I come across as strange. I have been observed and talked about, and it really hurts me inside some of the things that have been said about me.

 

[popolala]

Yes. With my anxiety I come across as strange. I have been observed and talked about, and it really hurts me inside some of the things that have been said about me.

I know how you feel, because same thing has happened to me. My senior was talking about me behind my back making fun of the way i look, act, speak, walk etc.... this colleague told me about this so this was how i knew..

this makes me feel self-concious even more.. and it doesnt help. ::

 

[LazyHermitCrab]

Yes and also if i'm talking with someone out in public i think strangers know i'll say something odd or something.. its like everyone is listening. So i try to talk lower so noone can hear and that someone is like what talk louder? lol.

 

[bigcat1967]

I take Klonopin - so it has helped me look and feel "normal" over the years...

 

[Deus_Ex_Lemur]

But we're making an assumption of people's reactions that may or may not be true based on our perceived views; the perception is all colored by your internal monologue and thoughts, and may not accurately represent the situation.

I've thoughts this way and still do, but more for some OCD reasons that make me do weird things. But - I've heard ppl tell me I look calm and can be nervous in some moments but looked relaxed which was furthest from the truth. (this was after a presentation/directing scene I was doing).

I was surprised... clearly, some moments are obvious - I guess it depends. But we're naturally paranoid anyways so I think there's a bit of hyperbole on it; no doubt some ppl prob do observe at a point but I think we make it worse than may actually be, and that's part of the problem. =)

 

[Phoenixx]

Yes, definitely -- the same happens to me a lot. As an example, in class I feel like since I talk less I automatically draw more attention to myself and when I have to talk or do something in front of them everyone's attention is 100% focused on me, whereas when the chatterboxes start running on and on nobody gives a damn or pays attention to them.

One of my classes is actually a 12 person discussion group where we discuss weekly readings, and everyone seems to interested in seeing how I act...even if I adjust in my seat. It scares me so much and it really doesn't help me contribute anything to the class.

^ I can relate to this sooo much. That's why I usually hate being called on in class or asked to do something. Because if it was anyone else who talks normally or just too much, it seems like no one really listens. But once I talk or do something, it's like everyone has to watch me like they've never seen someone talk before. It can be irritating... >.<

Also, my English class is... well, sometimes is, a 12 person discussion group too. Like, sometimes when we're reading a novel or reading passages, we'll sit in this circle (with desks) and just discuss everything, including opinions and such. And it's like everyone's interested in what I do, even if it's just shifting in my seat or writing something. It doesn't help my nervousness at all, let alone contributing something to the discussion.

 

[Hottie]

Yes, i feel like im being observed by others. But if im in a group i can seem confident sometimes, and other times not so much...the really only noticable thing regarding symptoms is the blushing.

For people with erythrophobia, we are in fear that we will blush constantly when around people. And when we do, we want the world to open up and swallow us...

I have a few 'friends' that i think they try to make me anxious. I think they sometimes try to make me blush but i dunno if thats just me being paro. But whatever it is, i be paro that im being watched.

But in reality, i think we are proberly looking out for peoples reactions towards us, more then what anyone else is actully observing (aww i cant put my thought into words)...

 

[darkrider]

I think this is the root of my SA tbh. I'm always thinking people are watching me. Like when I'm walking to school I think everyone driving on the street is watching me. i think everyone on the opposite side of the street is watching me. I think people next to me are watching me.

Then questions such as "Are they laughing at me?" "start running through my head which jus causes me to hastily make my way down the street.

 

[Phoenixx]

I'm so sorry....generally these types of classes don't happen in college, but I'm taking an accelerated program outside of my major that makes us take these discussion groups as prerequisites. For the most part in the beginning the lecture halls are huge and they get smaller as you progress. I'm probably going to drop the program after this year, not because the reading is too much for me, but because it is socially frightening and extremely stressful to me.

^ Wow, that does sound kinda stressful. The thing with my class is that I'm still in high school, but my English is a college course. So it's all taught in a regular high school classroom, but I'm still earning the college credits. It's not too bad, I only get very nervous when we have to circle up and discuss things.

I used to be pre-med and signed up for an EMT program which was taught to a small group of 16 people, and at the end of my first day in that class my instructor made us do this ice breaker (intense. hatred.) where we had to go around the room and repeat the name of an item the person before us in line stated and their name for every person in front of us in the line and then introduce ourselves. I was the last in line and couldn't remember a single thing anyone said in front of me due to my anxiety. In front of the class after I was stuttering like mad and clearly upset he said "I expect better of you next time." Thankfully I didn't start crying until I got into my car. I actually dropped the class and got it completely refunded after that day was over because I couldn't face any of them again. And I completely quit premed too because that's when I really knew I had to pick a job that suited me working behind the scenes....

^ That ice breaker sounds confusing. I don't know why your instructor expected "better" of you. I would've screwed up too, if not totally worse. The guy should've gave you a break, it was the first day. Everyone's nervous the first day, and it's always worse for those with SA. Sorry to hear you dropped though. So, are you still in something medical related? Or what are you taking now?

 

[Phoenixx]

Are you in AP English or some equivalent? That sounds a lot like what I did in high school. I did a couple AP classes in high school and was happy to get the credit. In my college, the time you can register for classes is based on the number of credit hours you have so I was always able to snag the classes I wanted before 90% of the other freshmen and a lot of the sophomores because I was allowed to sign up earlier It's always good to take a lot of advanced placement classes for this reason..

No, I am no longer in the medical track...I just think it was a sucky decision on my part to be in there for the first place when I knew it wasn't a good fit. It was really my relatives that pushed for me to be in there. I decided to go into engineering where I can work more behind the scenes in smaller groups. I am actually really glad I dropped that course because it made me realize for certain that I really hated what I was doing and that I needed to get out of there.

^ That's exactly what I'm taking, an AP English course. Last year I completed an AP History course, which was tons of fun (I love history ) and the teacher was awesome. I'm just happy I'm able to get these AP classes done now and out of the way so I don't have to worry about taking them in college. And engineering sounds like fun. Good luck!

 

[Kiwong]

I know how you feel, because same thing has happened to me. My senior was talking about me behind my back making fun of the way i look, act, speak, walk etc.... this colleague told me about this so this was how i knew..

this makes me feel self-concious even more.. and it doesnt help. ::

Yes it is words you overhear, like sniping pot shots, never to your face, but always indirect. I wonder who has the mental illness, me who dies silently inside every times this happens, or the people who spread this facile gossip?

 

[bitingthepea]

me to, i think because im so quiet at work and avoid any mingling with the staff, they observe me to see what im like. Theyv told me i need to talk more but its too hard !!! i just dno what to say to them