Hi,
I suppose that many of you here have found yourselves in situations where you could easily pick up on the fact that others were observing your nervousness/anxiety. I know for myself, one of the main (and most easily-described) ways that others have let me know that they were "on to me", so to speak - is by focusing their gaze on my hands. During many social interactions/exposures -my hands tend to be tensed-up, or otherwise awkward-looking, I guess. I have absolutely hated when people seem to brazenly gaze at them.
From an emotional standpoint - my distress over people's seeming to make it a point to observe the various signs of my anxiety has often been worse than the anxiety itself.
What's worse - there have been many occasions when people seemed to be taking some kind of satisfaction from my nervousness. For example - people have seemed to look at my hands with some smug, almost-gleeful expression on their faces. I know some of you may think I'm just being paranoid when I say this - but I'm pretty sure there is some validity to my perceptions. Sometimes, people enjoy seeing me sweat, it seems.
Have you ever gotten the impression that others were taking satisfaction (however "slight" that satisfaction was) in watching you struggle with anxiety? Have you ever gotten that vibe from someone that they liked "seeing you sweat"? If so, why do you think you provoked this "sadistic" reaction from them? Is it simply that people are cruel and inconsiderate, or could there be other factors at play?
I appreciate any responses - although please don't take it personally if I don't reply back. I've been dealing with a lot of cognitive/mental/emotional difficulties that have put a serious wrench in my communication efforts.
I suppose that many of you here have found yourselves in situations where you could easily pick up on the fact that others were observing your nervousness/anxiety. I know for myself, one of the main (and most easily-described) ways that others have let me know that they were "on to me", so to speak - is by focusing their gaze on my hands. During many social interactions/exposures -my hands tend to be tensed-up, or otherwise awkward-looking, I guess. I have absolutely hated when people seem to brazenly gaze at them.
From an emotional standpoint - my distress over people's seeming to make it a point to observe the various signs of my anxiety has often been worse than the anxiety itself.
What's worse - there have been many occasions when people seemed to be taking some kind of satisfaction from my nervousness. For example - people have seemed to look at my hands with some smug, almost-gleeful expression on their faces. I know some of you may think I'm just being paranoid when I say this - but I'm pretty sure there is some validity to my perceptions. Sometimes, people enjoy seeing me sweat, it seems.
Have you ever gotten the impression that others were taking satisfaction (however "slight" that satisfaction was) in watching you struggle with anxiety? Have you ever gotten that vibe from someone that they liked "seeing you sweat"? If so, why do you think you provoked this "sadistic" reaction from them? Is it simply that people are cruel and inconsiderate, or could there be other factors at play?
I appreciate any responses - although please don't take it personally if I don't reply back. I've been dealing with a lot of cognitive/mental/emotional difficulties that have put a serious wrench in my communication efforts.