I have this obsession where I always feel like people are judging me, so I stay in the house as much as possible. I hate walking down the street or even in my yard because I feel like people are staring at me. When I do go outside, I always have the feeling in the back of my mind that people are staring at me thinking how stupid I look. I feel like somebody will yell cruel things at me....

When I go to the grocery store or other places I have panic attacks, my face gets all red, I feel sweaty, itchy, my chest feels tight, and I have this "rush" of anxiety in my stomach and I just feel sick.

No matter how much I face my fears, it never seems to get better, sometimes only worse. I guess its because I get lost in the anxiety and thoughts that are racing through my head. I even feel like I have to put up a gaurd around my family, because I feel like they are judging me too.

Its just a horrible feeling, I remember a time when I was normal, and now I feel like I'm insane. I sit in my room all the time, and I do go outside on occasion and do my best to ignore the anxiety, but its still there and I feel like a joke.

Does anyone else feel like this? Any advice?

thnx.

I think that feeling like people are judging you and dislike you is part of anxiety.I know it is for me.I have a friend that just told me the other day that I always think people are glaring at me and hate me.I am not sure how to get over this,but I hope it helps to realize you are definately not alone.I try hard to please people and try to appear happy even when I am not.It gets tiring fast.

Hi guys,

I can relate too. I get so upset with myself wondering how I could go from being "normal" to freaking out about every possible scenario! If something spontaneous came up, I would just freak out, I have to really think about what I am going to wear, cause alot of things i feel MORE uncomfortable in. I also feel people looking at me like I am being judged. I feel like they can tell that I am a "crazy" person or something. It is a shame cause once you have ONE panic attack, you then think about it so much (becoz it was such a foreign experience) that you then live on "edge" wondering when it will happen again. It really is a vicious cycle. Sometimes I wonder if I will be like this forever, and that nobody really understands that going shopping, or watching a movie are terrifying! I remember going to a health resort and had massages that were meant to RELAX me, and all I did was be in a panic attack. That is when i really knew their was something wrong...:(

I know how you feel, especially now that I am unemployed. Ive become even more reclusive than I was before, because before I was going to work and that atleast got me out of the house a bit. I have a constant feeling of dread and feel panicky when I go out of the house.

Advice for Martin (and others)

They say that avoiding the problem makes things worse, and facing the problem is easier said than done, right?
Maybe a good thing to do, is maybe have a little notepad and pen with you, and take it everywhere that you go. Here are some things you could record (maybe draw up some headings for these)

1). What you are going to do? (go to shops, travel on a bus etc whatever you are anxious/panicky about)
2). A rating of 1 to 10 of how scary the experience seems (before you do it)
3). What is the worst scenario that you feel will happen (people will look at you, the bus will crash, you will embarrass yourself etc)
4). Rate how the experience went after you do it (1 to 10) and take note whether the worst scenario actually happened (did you make it to work on the bus safely, did anyone laugh at you or judge you etc)
5). Once you have recognized that you did “survive” this scary scenario, then it is important to give yourself a “pat on the back” and recognize your achievements. That what you “thought” was sure to happen, did not.

If doing this, and starting small, you should be able to read back on your notes, and realize that most of the time you “escaped” the scenario ok. You can then build up to “scarier” scenarios, and control anxiety levels more.

Maybe this could help some people? :)

That's actually a very good idea, thanks. I'll try it out.

I'm there as well. Last month, for a couple days there, I felt too fat to even go out of the house. I have always taken pride in my appearance, I won't go out with messy hair, sloppy clothing, etc. but still feel like I don't measure up and people are just thinking what a insert adverb here person I am. I really wanted to try on a top at a store, but it was close to the register and I just knew the cashier would think what the heck is this woman thinking, that won't fit her. How messed up is that?