What was he doing????

Hello All-

One of the things my shy guy at work USE TO DO when he would walk into a room and approach me was he would sometimes go over to the window first and look out, it seems he would have to stand there for a few minutes before turning around to say something to me.

And...if someone spoke to him..just to say hello even..it was as if he couldn't hear them, like for those few minutes he was in his own world.

He has done this in the past whenever he would come into my classroom (i run an after school program) or if he saw me in the staff lounge..he'd immediately walk to the window and if anyone tried to talk to him while he was doing this, its like he'd ignore them but yet when he was done..he'd come over to say whatever it was he needed to say to me as if no one else was around and then leave immediately!!!!!!


What is that exactly that he was doing??? It looked as if he was doing breathing exercise???


Thank you.

He is using breathing techniques to reduce his anxiety. He doesn't respond immediately because he is using the window as a part of his breathing techinques as a means to tune everything out and relax. He probably doesn't intentionally mean to ignore them but it can be very unnerving for someone to interrupt breathing techniques because unhindered anxiety can cause panic attacks. It's probably hard to respond to someone after ignoring them during a breathing exercise because it can make the situation awkward. It isn't uncommon for someone with SA to ignore others too because sometimes it's too hard to respond or too strange and uncomfortable.

I don't know how severe his panic attacks are or if he even has them but mine have put me in a bed for week(s). I would avoid trying to talk to him while he is doing it. The breathing exercises are very common and they are just used to reduce/prevent on coming pain. They aren't really anything you should be very concerned with. I have very very extreme social anxiety and panic attacks. I have to use these techniques very often.

they don't work

Breathing exercises just made me feel awkward. I guess for some people they are the best thing to do. But I don't think it's a panacea for anxiety.

Thank you for the responses.

I can tell when he has done that he is going into his own zone, wether its breathing or talking himself down, just calming his nerves..i would just let him do it and wait until he was comfortable enough to come to me.

sometimes before responding I pause for a second. not always the fastest reaction times but oh well. Sometimes I have to look away, or somewhere just to get my focus elsewhere, or calm down.