Talking to authority figures

[Drew]

Does anyone else have a real problem dealing with authority figures? It seems that whenever I am forced to speak to anyone in any position of authority, I just freak out. My heart starts thumping, my throat constricts, I feel like I can’t catch my breath, and my voice gets really high and shaky. I feel totally out of breath and it feels as though I have just run a marathon.

This happens when I am forced to talk to people like: Bosses, police, boarder guards, government people. It also happens when I need to complain about something or ask questions. It doesn’t matter if I’m on the phone, or in person.

I usually brush it off and just forget about it, but burying my head in the sand won’t do much good. It’s very noticeable and probably makes me look very strange. I don’t see other people displaying this behavior, so I wonder what my problem is.

I know it’s noticeable because the boarder guards always ask me extra questions when I travel into the US from Canada. They can obviously see how nervous I am and I can’t blame them for being careful. The thing is that I don’t have a reason to get nervous. I have nothing to hide.

Anyone else have this intense fear of authority figures and, if so, do you have any way to cope with the symptoms?

 

[scatmantom]

yea i dont like it either. No idea why but i get scared. Maybe im desperate to impress them, and not cock up!

 

[IceLad]

Maybe im desperate to impress them, and not cock up!

That sums me up nicely. I feel so uncomfortable and edgy around authority figures.

Guess you gotta remind yourself that at the end of the day, they are human just like everybody else.

 

[DYiNG-iNSiDE]

i just cant look them in the eyes 4 sum reason.

 

[Kinetik]

I do get a little more edgy around authority figures, absolutely. I was driving around town a few months back, and I noticed a police car in my rear view mirror. I remember thinking "watch me fuck up... " and sure enough, I nearly hit a kid at the next pedestrian crossing. I got off with a warning, but still. I guess you don't even need to be doing any talking to mess things up.

 

[Diluted_Acid]

The only authority figures i gotta come across alot are teachers, my boss, and old people (have to see them alot as part of my job, guess better than people my age though ). I try to avoid eye contact and try to avoid being too nice . . . which has lead me into sticky, horrible situations. Might sounds lame, but i rather come across as quiet and cool, rather than nervous, and timid, and to try achieve this, i give little (but enough!) eye contact, nod, and blur my eyes maybe like that it's not as if i can really see them. I dunno . . . . . Still struggling with them sorta people.

 

[sickofbeinglonely]

Authority figures scare the shit out of me.

 

[Scottish_Player]

I used to feel the same, but ive managed to change that. Afterall its just a thought in my head so i changed the though, when i have to go into speak to my manager for example i used to get nervous, now before i go into see him i tell myself hes just another work collegue and notiing else, which is exactly what he is.

A quote from a man i look upto in life goes like this "The biggest man was once a baby" said by Bob Marley, i take this to mean that we are all equal and must remember that.

Its not easy changing thoughts, like most things worth fighting for in life it takes time but when the day comes that you can confront your fears without feeling anxious it sure is a good feeling