I would probably feel the same way if I had to walk everyday in public streets. My mind might start to play games on me and make me think everyone in their cars passing by is staring at me. Luckily I have a car though and don't have to walk in public. Even then its still kind of awkward driving past oncoming cars. Thats why I have dark tint all around

 

I think most people feel that way to some degree. Don't make the mistake of comparing your insides to other peoples' outsides. My suggestion is that exposure is the best way to get over it: try to put yourself in that situation as much as you can, and you'll get used to it.

 

I used to have exactly what you had!.

what helped me to get rid of it was, to go out with a friend or some friends!!. now the first 15 times i couldn't really pay attention on the jokes and stuff and wasn't really mixed in the convo, BUT! after around 15 times going out i got used to it and had a blast every time i went out with them, i even forgot that i had SA and even hit on girls because i was super happy i actually turned way more socially confident because of that.

 

I used to have exactly what you had!.

what helped me to get rid of it was, to go out with a friend or some friends!!. now the first 15 times i couldn't really pay attention on the jokes and stuff and wasn't really mixed in the convo, BUT! after around 15 times going out i got used to it and had a blast every time i went out with them, i even forgot that i had SA and even hit on girls because i was super happy i actually turned way more socially confident because of that.

Lol that happens to me alot. Sometimes ill totally forget about my SA if im having fun / some distracting event

 

I feel uncomfortable walking in public too. I feel like I look uptight or something when no one probably even notices me there. It's different If I'm walking with a friend or family because then it feels like attention is diverted away from me.

 

Not too bad, but this is one of my exposure methods. I live walking around my city, it's right on the ocean and there's tons to see. It has about 70k people do its not overwhelming. I don't talk to people much, but I'm not too uncomfortable with it.

Though when homeless people ask for money I feel a little awkward.

 

Though when homeless people ask for money I feel a little awkward.

When homeless people ask for money I stare blankly like I don't understand English.

Walking down the streets does make me uncomfortable because I get self-conscious and don't know where to look. To cope with this I keep my eyes on a place where there are no people, and distract myself with an iPod. If someone looks at me, I just look away.

 

Usually. I feel I'm being judged all the time. For example when somebody laughs when I'm around I always get a thought in my head that they/he/she was laughing at me for whatever reason. I know it's just in my head but the thoughts are always there.

 

That's how I feel and I'm 15 in school too and I know no one probably notices me but I feel like everyone is my step dad gave me some advice though " run your own race " simple right but its telling you don't compare your self to others your doing your own thing and that's fine.... So I try I think about that during school and walking down the street to stop myself from comparing myself to others and to stop my mind from wondering about others opinions about me

 

I always feel that people are mocking me in some way, it doesn't help that I hear people laughing nearly everywhere I go. It sounds a bit ridiculous and I don't think I'm that paranoid, but it feels like they're laughing at me. Yep.

 

Uncomfortable

Very.

 

Does anyone else feel awkward and uncomfortable walking in the streets?i feel so uncomfortable walking in the streets, i feel like people are giving me dirty looks i especially hate those snobby smirks.it really brings down my self esteem. I feel bad if i reject my friends offer to go out to hang out, so i go but end up feeling uncomfortable and paranoid the whole time. When someone is walking towards me, even when i am with someone i get panicky and wonder where should l look, and end up either looking to the side, the ground, or past them, which feels awkward to me ;/. I feel so ugly too, id rather just stay home and not have people see me or live somewhere with not too many people around. Its hell everyday going to school and outside, very exhausting and nerve wrecking :/ the only place i feel comfortable is where there isn't anyone or at home or somewhere indoors where its just me and someone i feel comfortable with :/ life is not fun this way.

Does anyone else feel the same? How do you cope with it?

Omg I feel the exact same way. Have you ever thought that maybe you have bdd?

 

I felt the same way too. Esp when I need to go to school everyday and I tend to avoid public transport as I have to walk to the bus stop from my house to school. Will start to have those avoiding thoughts. By the way, what does bdd stands for? Thanks.

 

Nope not on the streets. 87% of the time I'm listening to music when I'm walking down the street so I guess that helps distract me. But if I am in a room, I feel uncomfortable standing up/walking.

 

I have BDD which makes walking in public extremely uncomfortable. I always feel like people in cars are watching me and judging me, either for my looks or the way I'm walking. The worst time of day is first thing in the morning because that's when I feel my worst, so the walk from my car to my workplace (which involves walking along a very busy road) is every uncomfortable. I stay at my computer for my lunch break because I hate going outside and walking down the busy road for all to see.

People can't convince me that no one is watching - I'm a driver too and when I'm sitting at traffic lights bored out of my brain I take notice of distractions, including people walking on the pavement or in front of my car - it's human nature.

 

When someone is walking towards me, even when i am with someone i get panicky and wonder where should l look, and end up either looking to the side, the ground, or past them, which feels awkward to me ;/.

Yeah, I do the exact same thing. I never know where to look and I almost never can look the passer-by in the eye. I can't look forward either so I end looking at the ground. When I am walking along the busy street I feel like I don't belong there. Sometimes I even feel like this street and all the surrounding aren't real, like they are just the decorations. I do like going for walks though but I do it in the evenings when there are less people outside and I like listening to music to get myself distracted.

 

Strange, for me its the complete opposite, I felt almost obligated to look at the person and smile... but I just don't care anymore, its just plain silly.

 

Not anymore... but sometimes I still feel the need to bury my arms under my sleeves, as if walking with my arms down is uncomfortable (not uncomfortable in terms of anxiety, uncomfortable in terms of like pain :con. Maybe because before I was so used to being stiff when walking with my arms down its just almost painful now?
Could also be because it's still cold outside and it feels warmer that way.

 

I sometimes do but most of the time I don't feel uncomfortable at all.

 

i feel the same way and do the whole look to the side thing or straight past them

i work outside so its really nerve wrecking for me most of the time, it doesn't help me being ugly, it makes me really self conscious and i know people laugh at me and stare at me because i don't look like the average person.

 

Yes all the time

 

Hey i feel the same way.

 

When I walk on the streets alone, I feel shallow, isolated and unreal, as if everybody else was doing something important and everything I believe or am interested in is irrelevant or unappropriate.

 

I can't even take a walk in my neighborhood. If someone is walking towards me coming the other way it's all I can do not to dive into a bush somewhere to avoid simply acknowledging them. :roll

 

i actually like walking by myself. i go on really long walks all the time.

 

I feel like the world is just ready to pounce on me at any time when I am out and about.

 

I feel VERY awkward and uncomfortable. When I go out, I cover my face with my hand pretending the sun is in my eyes, even if it's a rainy gloomy day so that people can't see me and so that I can't see them. If there are any cars passing, I look at the houses on the other side or look behind as if I'm waiting/looking for someone, it's the same thing if I see someone coming in my direction. I can't even go to my cousins house (6 doors away) without going upstairs and looking through the curtains to see if any cars or people are coming and even if the streets are clear, I ask my cousin to come and stand outside of her house so that I then can go to her house.

 

yes, very uncomfortable I have a hard time in public no matter where I go i feel like people look at me and they look at me as if I'm not human as if I'm not "normal" like the rest of the world, I can't talk to people in public either I go to the gym every day and try my best to avoid everyone, and when I'm forced to talk to people you can hear my total lack of confidence in my voice I will start to stutter a little and mumble, blah I hate having to deal with the public, but yet I wish I could fit in with all these people who can go in public and talk to random strangers but nope here i am the weirdo who never speaks unless he has too.

 

Yeah I get this umcomfortable feeling when walking and there are people always!

It's as if my body freezes and my walking gets very awkward.. my hands stop moving as I walk (thanks to our fight & flight response once again!)

Some people tell me that it's all in my head, but that's not true because I have heard already (from people I walk nearby) the way I walk.

So really everyone who says it's all in your head isn't always true! they have no idea what the hell they are talking about.