Aha, well I'm not so much a people person anymore (social anxiety sucks!), I just do whatever I can to lighten the mood.

But that's the thing I'm working at, is being a people person again, so I'll try this out this holiday season.

I'm always reminded of the time (about 10 years ago) when I went out walking on a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing and I had this huge smile on my face looking at the gardens in the back yards, when all of a sudden this guy straighened up. He'd been bent over his motorcycle and was hidden by the azaela bushes. Our eyes met and he thought I was smiling at him!!! He hopped on his motorcycle and was coming after me so I did the only thing a girl with social anxiety could do--I started hacking and coughing and pretended I was getting sick to my stomach. He veered off at the corner just ahead of me. WHEW!!!

So I figure if I catch someone looking at me that their mind is far off--just like my mind was when that guy and I locked eyes.

I know what you mean by that.

I get so paranoid when people stare at me, I don't know whether to be scared, upset, angry or what....I always wonder what exactly they're staring at....

Are they staring at my scars? Are they staring at me rudely? Im really concious of that cuz of what's happened in the past.
I feel so uncomfortable I feel like crying but im too scared to move until they're gone.

When im at work and I get stared at by the cook, I freak out so badly I go and sit in te bathroom for so long people come looking for me.

Its definately not weird what you're feeling.. It comes with anxiety. Its just trying to work past it that's really hard.

But no matter how hard things get, there's always something that makes it just a little bit better.

I found hope in animals..
Im in love with them..I watch them in awe.

Music also helps me..my boyfriend and his brother are musicians and that helps me heaps. Music is very theraputic for me... maybe for you too.??

I try to go to a happy place when im anxious about staring....

I have no idea if im helping at all....but I hope I am!!

I've had PTSD, OCD, social anxiety, depression since I was a little girl...some days are good.....
Surround yourself with things and people you love. They will help you.

Sorry if this just wasted your time....

creativedissent wrote:
Unfortunately I'm so frightened of people looking at me or staring at me that I have trouble going to places with strangers. I just get so depressed if others stare at me because I automatically think they're looking down on me or that they think I'm a freak. I'm not quite sure how to change this belief, because what if they DO think I'm a freak? I'm afraid to look people in the eye because I fear they'll judge me according to my appearence. In addition, I'm afraid to speak, fearing one sentence will make others reject me.

I just wanna know what you think if people stare at you. I want to cope with this. I've been told my belief is unrealistic, but how is it unrealistic? Thank you all. This is my first post on this website. Funny how I can talk so much. I guess I was looking for someone to discuss this with, because it's confusing me a lot.

When people stare at me it makes me very uncomfortable. Sometimes it gets to the point where I get violent thoughts and just want to scream "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU LOOKING AT?". I think its really rude when people stare at you.

I know sometimes when people look at me I get silly thoughts like "do I have a booger hanging from my nose?" and other things of that nature.

The questions you should be asking yourself do not include "what do they think of me", they should include "should I really care what they think of me?" or "how does what they think of me have any impact on my life?"

Check out this image

Aha, the bottom part of that picture is classic Kevin..."Do fish get thirsty?"

So I've asked friends when they stare at other people why they do it, and 9 out of 10 responses are "I was lost in thought and they just happened to be in the same direction I was looking". Which I've also found I do from time to time...next time pull out a piece of paper, write "Hi" on it, show it to them smile and leave. Nothing like leaving a person feeling the same way you did 1 minute earlier.

Years ago I used to be self-conscience. If people stare at me now....it's because I know they're thinking, wow......he's hot!