sahxox
Well-known member
Hi
I feel kinda isolated from most people, even some social phobia sufferers.
I say this because it is almost like I have my 'normal self' and then my 'social phobic' self.
I don't have multiple personalities, but for the sake of the metaphor, I believe this fits.
i.e. naturally when I'm relaxed, eg around family and friends, I am bubbly and often the life of the party. Yet with many acquaintances, I can be timid and uptight and in the worst case, be too scared to talk to them. Then everyone thinks I'm a 'mute' or whatever which is the complete opposite of my actual personality.
So I find myself trying to overcompensate, when I'm with people I am comfortable with and the others are near, I exhaggerate myself and become self-conscious. It sounds crazy when put like this, but it is horrible and somehing that controls me - I cannot choose how i act! Someone either intimidates me or not. I get so aware of their perceptions counteracting mine that it significantly impairs my everyday functioning.
Basically, I am not seeking responses telling me to 'not care what others think' because i know there 'opinions' aren't important, but that does not make their power any less real.
I guess I just wanna know if anyone else lives their life like me, and if they've figured out any way or tips to make it easier. To not freeze and shut-down in certain situations uncontrollably. Because it has and continues to
impaire my life.
I feel kinda isolated from most people, even some social phobia sufferers.
I say this because it is almost like I have my 'normal self' and then my 'social phobic' self.
I don't have multiple personalities, but for the sake of the metaphor, I believe this fits.
i.e. naturally when I'm relaxed, eg around family and friends, I am bubbly and often the life of the party. Yet with many acquaintances, I can be timid and uptight and in the worst case, be too scared to talk to them. Then everyone thinks I'm a 'mute' or whatever which is the complete opposite of my actual personality.
So I find myself trying to overcompensate, when I'm with people I am comfortable with and the others are near, I exhaggerate myself and become self-conscious. It sounds crazy when put like this, but it is horrible and somehing that controls me - I cannot choose how i act! Someone either intimidates me or not. I get so aware of their perceptions counteracting mine that it significantly impairs my everyday functioning.
Basically, I am not seeking responses telling me to 'not care what others think' because i know there 'opinions' aren't important, but that does not make their power any less real.
I guess I just wanna know if anyone else lives their life like me, and if they've figured out any way or tips to make it easier. To not freeze and shut-down in certain situations uncontrollably. Because it has and continues to
impaire my life.
