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Winnieler
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Default May 28, 2019 at 07:38 AM
  #1
Hi all! First post to the board. I tried doing a search to see if there were already threads relevant, but I didn't have any luck. I apologize if this is redundant. I'm not looking for advice to replace a doctor, but am trying to understand if anyone else ever feels this way.

I've always had social anxiety. That constant fear of looking stupid in front of people has driven me away from a good chunk of things in life. I always bring my husband with me wherever I go and I have panic attacks when thinking about doing things in public (taking a package to Fedex, waiting for a plumber, going inside a bank, etc.) I have developed some coping mechanisms to help me get through most daily activities, but as long as I can remember it has been there. I haven't had any major trauma in my life, but my anxieties are definitely geared toward men specifically. The anxiety is with most things and people, but I am more inclined to go through a check out line with a lady, a doctor who is a lady, etc. So I think it's also tied to feeling self conscious.

This is where it gets interesting though. I also always feel watched whenever I'm alone. I didn't realize other people never feel this way until I was talking with my husband one day... and then my mother. I don't feel threatened or endangered, I just feel like people (men most often) are always watching me and commenting on my life.

If I'm cleaning the house, I feel eyes on me. If I'm mowing the lawn, I feel eyes on me. Sometimes it feels like relatives who have passed, other times it's whatever musician I'm listening to on the radio. If I trip as I'm walking out to my car, I turn red and feel those same eyes on me - imagining that they're commenting on my fall. I don't hear voices aloud, but I do build these imaginary conversations in my head. They don't say bad things - they're loving.

But it's constant, y'all. If I'm with a lot of people and I'm distracting myself with activities I don't feel it as much. I sometimes feel like it's a coping mechanism simply because the conversations I build in my head are always kind. Like maybe it's a way that my mind is trying to make me less uncomfortable with life. However, it's weird that it's mostly when I'm alone because you would think it would come out more when I'm in tough public situations.

I plan to talk to a doctor, but just wanted to see if anyone else has ever experienced this. I've tried researching things, but haven't really found anything. I don't hear voices telling me to do things; I don't feel threatened; my mind doesn't build characters or personalities. It kind of feels like I have a million imaginary friends, only I don't see them and I know that they aren't real. But they're there watching me and commenting on my life - sometimes conversing back and forth when one another even. It could be like Brad Pitt talking to my dad (deceased) about how proud they are of me while I wash my dishes. Ha!
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Smile May 29, 2019 at 07:43 PM
  #2
Hello Winnieler: I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to Psych Central. I see you posted this in the anxiety forum. There is also a social anxiety sub-forum. Here's a link to that one just in case you haven't already noticed it:

https://psychcentralforums.com/socia...ective-mutism/

Social anxiety is certainly something I've struggled with over the years. And I've always tended to have a lot of conversations going on in my head as well. I've always simply chalked that up to anxiety. I can't say as I've had the experience of feeling as though I'm being watched. It will be interesting to hear what your doctor has to say about what you've been experiencing.

Here are links to 4 articles, from Psych Central's archives, on the subject of social anxiety:

Social Anxiety Overview | Psych Central

6 Ways to Overcome Social Anxiety

Tips for Social Anxiety Sufferers

Social Anxiety: 5 Truths and How to Relieve the Suffering

I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

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Default May 29, 2019 at 08:47 PM
  #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnieler View Post
Hi all! First post to the board.

If I'm cleaning the house, I feel eyes on me. If I'm mowing the lawn, I feel eyes on me. Sometimes it feels like relatives who have passed, other times it's whatever musician I'm listening to on the radio. If I trip as I'm walking out to my car, I turn red and feel those same eyes on me - imagining that they're commenting on my fall. I don't hear voices aloud, but I do build these imaginary conversations in my head. They don't say bad things - they're loving.

But it's constant, y'all. If I'm with a lot of people and I'm distracting myself with activities I don't feel it as much. I sometimes feel like it's a coping mechanism simply because the conversations I build in my head are always kind. Like maybe it's a way that my mind is trying to make me less uncomfortable with life. However, it's weird that it's mostly when I'm alone because you would think it would come out more when I'm in tough public situations.

I plan to talk to a doctor, but just wanted to see if anyone else has ever experienced this. I've tried researching things, but haven't really found anything. I don't hear voices telling me to do things; I don't feel threatened; my mind doesn't build characters or personalities. It kind of feels like I have a million imaginary friends, only I don't see them and I know that they aren't real. But they're there watching me and commenting on my life - sometimes conversing back and forth when one another even. It could be like Brad Pitt talking to my dad (deceased) about how proud they are of me while I wash my dishes. Ha!
Hi! Welcome to PC! Do you think you could have developed this habit to save you from boredom. In boring situations, I will start making up stories with me in them in my head. Though I'm not imaginative enough to have a million friends in the stories. Maybe some of it is just pleasant and because of that the habit has grown? Just an idea. Another idea is that you might more IRL people to talk to. Just ideas but, so many people let their imaginations go everywhere--I especially did it in church and during road trips when I was younger. And maybe look for a meaning in what pops up in your head. The Brad Pitt thing sounds like a great pep talk and so feel good! That thought would help me make the dishes sparkle.
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Default May 30, 2019 at 07:47 AM
  #4
Thanks guys for your feedback! I will definitely let you know what the doctor says.

I didn't think about the boredom thing! I mean that does make sense. Because it's never anything negative and I don't feel threatened, I figured it was something else other than social anxiety, or maybe it was my internal approach to making myself feel more comfortable with life.

Like my body is trying to prepare me to not freak out as soon as I have social interaction. It is interesting that it does happen more so when I'm alone, but again if it is a defense mechanism of some sort or through boredom, that would make sense if it's in preparation for the next big checkout at the grocery store.
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Default Jun 08, 2019 at 08:46 PM
  #5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnieler View Post
Hi all! First post to the board. I tried doing a search to see if there were already threads relevant, but I didn't have any luck. I apologize if this is redundant. I'm not looking for advice to replace a doctor, but am trying to understand if anyone else ever feels this way.

I've always had social anxiety. That constant fear of looking stupid in front of people has driven me away from a good chunk of things in life. I always bring my husband with me wherever I go and I have panic attacks when thinking about doing things in public (taking a package to Fedex, waiting for a plumber, going inside a bank, etc.) I have developed some coping mechanisms to help me get through most daily activities, but as long as I can remember it has been there. I haven't had any major trauma in my life, but my anxieties are definitely geared toward men specifically. The anxiety is with most things and people, but I am more inclined to go through a check out line with a lady, a doctor who is a lady, etc. So I think it's also tied to feeling self conscious.

This is where it gets interesting though. I also always feel watched whenever I'm alone. I didn't realize other people never feel this way until I was talking with my husband one day... and then my mother. I don't feel threatened or endangered, I just feel like people (men most often) are always watching me and commenting on my life.

If I'm cleaning the house, I feel eyes on me. If I'm mowing the lawn, I feel eyes on me. Sometimes it feels like relatives who have passed, other times it's whatever musician I'm listening to on the radio. If I trip as I'm walking out to my car, I turn red and feel those same eyes on me - imagining that they're commenting on my fall. I don't hear voices aloud, but I do build these imaginary conversations in my head. They don't say bad things - they're loving.

But it's constant, y'all. If I'm with a lot of people and I'm distracting myself with activities I don't feel it as much. I sometimes feel like it's a coping mechanism simply because the conversations I build in my head are always kind. Like maybe it's a way that my mind is trying to make me less uncomfortable with life. However, it's weird that it's mostly when I'm alone because you would think it would come out more when I'm in tough public situations.

I plan to talk to a doctor, but just wanted to see if anyone else has ever experienced this. I've tried researching things, but haven't really found anything. I don't hear voices telling me to do things; I don't feel threatened; my mind doesn't build characters or personalities. It kind of feels like I have a million imaginary friends, only I don't see them and I know that they aren't real. But they're there watching me and commenting on my life - sometimes conversing back and forth when one another even. It could be like Brad Pitt talking to my dad (deceased) about how proud they are of me while I wash my dishes. Ha!
I feel the same way myself! You are doing better than me. I have no coping skills.
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