Social Anxiety Support

Thomas Paine · 08-22-2009, 07:09 PM

Does it make you happy when you see a happy couple in love, someone with a smile on their face, someone who has really cool toys/possessions? Or does it just make you wish you were them, or bring up some other negative feeling?

Personally, I love seeing other people happy and successful, and love helping people. I feel terrible when I see someone who is unhappy. It gives me anxiety/depression when I see people who are depressed or angry, but seeing happy people or making someone else happy helps it go away and reminds me that there's hope.

carambola · 08-22-2009, 07:45 PM

I think someone I feel positively about being happy would tend to make me feel a little better, although there are instances where seeing other people's happiness could make me feel worse. I can be envious of others' friendships and social experiences, for example.

millenniumman75 · 08-22-2009, 08:59 PM

If it is somebody close to me, then I am happy. Otherwise, it depends on my mood.

Ospi · 08-22-2009, 09:11 PM

I always like people to be happy, it makes me happy. I am not a jealous person so seeing people being successful if anything simply inspires me to work harder so I too can enjoy that thrill.

Planet has too much sadness, anger and depression and I can never understand why observing people like that would make anyone feel better....

Syrena · 08-22-2009, 09:19 PM

Well, generally, if people are happy, I doubt they are going to be bothering me, so that's a plus. However, if it's say, a happy couple, and I'm lonely (like usual), I tend to just be jealous.

It's not that I want to take away what they have, I just want it too.

Envision · 08-22-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Paine

Does it make you happy when you see a happy couple in love, someone with a smile on their face, someone who has really cool toys/possessions? Or does it just make you wish you were them, or bring up some other negative feeling?

Personally, I love seeing other people happy and successful, and love helping people. I feel terrible when I see someone who is unhappy. It gives me anxiety/depression when I see people who are depressed or angry, but seeing happy people or making someone else happy helps it go away and reminds me that there's hope.

Successful? No! Because successful people are often unhappy. Once a person has the basic necessities of life, happiness is not dependent on income.

Happy? Are they really happy? Happiness seems to be very short-lived. Sometimes, I'm a very good actor pretending I'm happy. Most of us are. If we look sad and unhappy, we're not going to make many friends.

Love? No! If someone is intensely in love, good for them. But I know that instense love won't last forever. It may be all over next month. I've seen so many relationships that are farces. Unfaithfulness. A one-sided love. Sadly, I don't want love.

I do feel very sad when I see poverty. Most of us should be very happy we're living in the present age we are. I'm very thankful for that.

anonymid · 08-22-2009, 10:00 PM

While seeing unhappy people makes me feel bad, seeing happy people doesn't necessarily make me feel good.

lyssado707 · 08-22-2009, 11:42 PM

Sometimes. Prolly has to do with mood. If i'm jealous i try to remind myself i'm happy for them underneath the jealousy cuz i believe i really am.

Dipper · 08-23-2009, 12:22 AM

It depends on if I think they deserve it. But generally yes it makes me happy. I doesn't brighten my mood or anything but I like to see joy and happiness instead of pain and sorrow. I would hate to get negative feelings toward that sort of thing. I do get a bit envious though. And it can make me feel down that I'm not happy like them. So I guess I just went all over the place with this post didn't I? lol, but hopefully you know what I mean.

EagerMinnow84 · 08-23-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymid

While seeing unhappy people makes me feel bad, seeing happy people doesn't necessarily make me feel good.

You stole my answer.

ShyFX · 08-23-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millenniumman75

If it is somebody close to me, then I am happy. Otherwise, it depends on my mood.

Same. I find people's emotions rub off on me the more I know them and care about them.

Freedom2010 · 08-23-2009, 01:36 PM

I usually do end up feeling what others around me are feeling, so if other people are happy it makes me happy. Seeing happy couples though can make me jealous.

KyleThomas · 08-23-2009, 01:38 PM

It depends on my mood. If I'm in a really down mood, then not much is going to make me happy. But generally speaking, yes I am happy to see others happy.

JFmtl · 08-23-2009, 02:35 PM

Most of the time, other people's happiness makes me happy too, unless i'm in a very very very bad mood

EagerMinnow84 · 08-23-2009, 02:39 PM

It also depends what brought on the happiness. A friend of mine recently moved back home to go back to school and she was happy (and sad too) about it. I was really happy for her that she is able to be near her family and further her education and do awesome things. It made me sad that she was leaving, but I was happy for her that she was going to grad school and near the family that she missed when she was in Chicago.

It makes me envious when I see people my age together. It does not make me happy. It makes me very very envious. I do not like how I feel when this happens.

britisharrow · 08-23-2009, 02:52 PM

I like to see people I care about happy.

This does not stop me feeling jealous when other people have what I want, especially if I don't think they deserve it as much as I do.

Aurora · 08-23-2009, 06:11 PM

I chose depends on mood.. but if the happy person is close to me, like family or partner, then it makes me happy, if its anyone else, its just annoying lol. I dont have much happiness right now. My family isnt very happy and I can never tell with my partner. I wish the closest people around me were more positive. It could really help me out.

IThinkIAmMe · 08-24-2009, 05:35 PM

deep down in that area where my heart and/or soul is supposed to be si that of a bitter old person....so no, their happiness does not make me happy lol

Toad Licker · 08-25-2009, 09:12 PM

For the most part no because I'm rarely truely happy and it usually has nothing to do with other people when I am, though other peoples happiness can pick my mood up at times depending on the situation.

Your Crazy · 08-26-2009, 07:38 AM

When I see happy people, mainly a group of people socializing or a smiling couple, I get horribly depressed and then go on to wondering why I exist.

View Poll Results: Does happiness of other people make you happy?
Yes, it makes me happy.	23	21.90%
No, it does not make me happy.	31	29.52%
It depends on my mood.	51	48.57%
Voters: 105. You may not vote on this poll

08-22-2009, 07:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Thomas Paine Status: Fail Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 1,698	Does happiness of other people make you happy? Does it make you happy when you see a happy couple in love, someone with a smile on their face, someone who has really cool toys/possessions? Or does it just make you wish you were them, or bring up some other negative feeling? Personally, I love seeing other people happy and successful, and love helping people. I feel terrible when I see someone who is unhappy. It gives me anxiety/depression when I see people who are depressed or angry, but seeing happy people or making someone else happy helps it go away and reminds me that there's hope.

08-22-2009, 08:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
millenniumman75 Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dayton-Cincinnati, OH Gender: Male Age: 34 Posts: 38,628	If it is somebody close to me, then I am happy. Otherwise, it depends on my mood. __________________ millenniumman75 You are a success story waiting to happen! Live and let live VACUUMS more than a Hoover.... Live and HELP live is better!

08-22-2009, 09:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ospi Status: Swoit Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 1,499	I always like people to be happy, it makes me happy. I am not a jealous person so seeing people being successful if anything simply inspires me to work harder so I too can enjoy that thrill. Planet has too much sadness, anger and depression and I can never understand why observing people like that would make anyone feel better.... __________________ "Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after...is just waiting"

08-22-2009, 10:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
anonymid Status: gulping for shape Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicagoland Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 2,077	While seeing unhappy people makes me feel bad, seeing happy people doesn't necessarily make me feel good. __________________ "He who has not the courage to suffer either death or life, who will neither resist nor flee, what can we do with him?" - Montaigne

08-22-2009, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
carambola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 24 Posts: 735	I think someone I feel positively about being happy would tend to make me feel a little better, although there are instances where seeing other people's happiness could make me feel worse. I can be envious of others' friendships and social experiences, for example.

08-22-2009, 09:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Syrena Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Illinois Gender: Female Age: 25 Posts: 265	Well, generally, if people are happy, I doubt they are going to be bothering me, so that's a plus. However, if it's say, a happy couple, and I'm lonely (like usual), I tend to just be jealous. It's not that I want to take away what they have, I just want it too.

08-22-2009, 11:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
lyssado707 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Age: 22 Posts: 3,228	Sometimes. Prolly has to do with mood. If i'm jealous i try to remind myself i'm happy for them underneath the jealousy cuz i believe i really am. __________________ In Loving Memory, http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...6/P1000595.jpg http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...P1000480-1.jpg Marmalade January 1991-February 19, 2007

08-23-2009, 12:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dipper Status: PASTAMANIA BROTHER Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 285	It depends on if I think they deserve it. But generally yes it makes me happy. I doesn't brighten my mood or anything but I like to see joy and happiness instead of pain and sorrow. I would hate to get negative feelings toward that sort of thing. I do get a bit envious though. And it can make me feel down that I'm not happy like them. So I guess I just went all over the place with this post didn't I? lol, but hopefully you know what I mean.

08-23-2009, 01:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
Freedom2010 Status: breaking free Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here, there, and eveywhere Gender: Female Posts: 2,214	I usually do end up feeling what others around me are feeling, so if other people are happy it makes me happy. Seeing happy couples though can make me jealous. __________________ "Live right now- just be yourself. Doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else." - Jimmy Eat World

08-23-2009, 01:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
KyleThomas Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Gender: Male Posts: 448	It depends on my mood. If I'm in a really down mood, then not much is going to make me happy. But generally speaking, yes I am happy to see others happy.

08-23-2009, 02:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
JFmtl Status: schtroumpf grognon Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montréal Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 1,096	Most of the time, other people's happiness makes me happy too, unless i'm in a very very very bad mood

08-23-2009, 02:39 PM	#15 (permalink)
EagerMinnow84 Status: Living in Technicolor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dancing with Gene Kelly Gender: Female Posts: 1,189	It also depends what brought on the happiness. A friend of mine recently moved back home to go back to school and she was happy (and sad too) about it. I was really happy for her that she is able to be near her family and further her education and do awesome things. It made me sad that she was leaving, but I was happy for her that she was going to grad school and near the family that she missed when she was in Chicago. It makes me envious when I see people my age together. It does not make me happy. It makes me very very envious. I do not like how I feel when this happens. __________________ I don't know, I kind of like him. He's the exact opposite of everything I really hate. In a way, he's such a clueless dork, he's almost kind of cool

08-23-2009, 02:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
britisharrow Status: 3rd SAS Battalion Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Glasgow, UK Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 455	I like to see people I care about happy. This does not stop me feeling jealous when other people have what I want, especially if I don't think they deserve it as much as I do.

08-23-2009, 06:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
Aurora Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia. Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 850	I chose depends on mood.. but if the happy person is close to me, like family or partner, then it makes me happy, if its anyone else, its just annoying lol. I dont have much happiness right now. My family isnt very happy and I can never tell with my partner. I wish the closest people around me were more positive. It could really help me out. __________________ I tell you everything that is really nothing, and nothing of what is everything, do not be fooled by what I am saying. Please listen carefully and try to hear what I am not saying. ~ Charles C. Finn

08-24-2009, 05:35 PM	#18 (permalink)
IThinkIAmMe Status: Time Lord Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ontario Gender: Female Age: 18 Posts: 151	deep down in that area where my heart and/or soul is supposed to be si that of a bitter old person....so no, their happiness does not make me happy lol __________________ However long the night, the dawn will break. -African Proverb Regard my omnipresence: mimiincognito.tumblr.com twitter.com/mimiincognito mimiincognito.livejournal.com (where you can follow my Victory Lap blog)

08-25-2009, 09:12 PM	#19 (permalink)
Toad Licker Status: Broken Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: A Fruitloop Daydream Gender: Male Age: 44 Posts: 29,596	For the most part no because I'm rarely truely happy and it usually has nothing to do with other people when I am, though other peoples happiness can pick my mood up at times depending on the situation. __________________ All will wither, go to sleep The ones you love you may not keep All you touch will fall apart The dreams you kill will break your heart There's no mercy, there's no rest The void will scream within your chest No one knows and no one will So leave this place that makes you Ill - Madder Mortem

08-26-2009, 07:38 AM	#20 (permalink)
Your Crazy Status: 007 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: My Mind Gender: Male Posts: 300	When I see happy people, mainly a group of people socializing or a smiling couple, I get horribly depressed and then go on to wondering why I exist. __________________ "I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you...stranger." - The Joker