crowd responses that embarrass/frighten u?

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pency
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02 Jun 2010, 1:01 pm

...or "feel bad" about yourself?

example -
In a movie or seeing groups of people on the news where there is a common/universal crowd response (usually this is "joy" or "laughter")
Typical in a morning show in the U.S. filmed on streets of NY - crowds of people cheering and waving at the cameras.

Do these sounds and sights of people laughing heartily without regard to anything make you feel really out of it?
I really feel "confused" by a lot of these "joy" emotions or displays. It almost "makes me feel bad" or "shamed"
I cannot understand how all at once everyone will laugh and share a common experience and seem to thrive off of each other and be "free"
Intellectually I "get"/understand a joke - but an out loud laughter does not occur.
I don't laugh at "humor"

I am not sure if I am using the right words.

Intellectually I know they are not "laughing at me" so it is not a delusional/paranoia type feeling.
It is more of a feeling of estrangement and bewilderment.
Like what are they doing? Why?

Also - certain expressions of laughter make me feel like I want to die.
I am actually kind of embarrassed to even type this, but what the hell -
** "woo hoo" or "woooo" (done in an alto/high voice) by women.
What on earth would make someone feel that way?
Is that a normal response or is it learned?
I am 44 and don't remember that sound from when I was a kid.
I think it is a new one. If it is new, how can an entire society "learn" a way to laugh???

A few years ago I was at a sporting event and when the team won the crowd went crazy!! !!
There was music playing and strangers were doing high 5's to each other and yelling and jumping up & down.
The building was shaking.
I was terrified - my heart began to race and I was afraid I was going to jump from the stands (I was up really high - the heightened energy of the crowd was really overwhelming and while it was supposed to be celebratory it felt sadistic & barbaric)
** When I say I wanted to jump, I was not "suicidal" it was just a frightened "flight or fight" type flutter in my chest response - to get away - make it stop.

That was the last time I was in a group like that.
I don't WANT to participate in any such merriment or whatever it is, but it really sort of frightens me and makes me feel very squeamish.
Are there words for this?



Last edited by pency on 02 Jun 2010, 1:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ferdinand
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02 Jun 2010, 1:05 pm

Spoken well, friend.

I feel the same way. People need to stop acting like this.


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pency
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02 Jun 2010, 1:14 pm

Thank you for your reply.
This is a relief to just express these thoughts.

I have tried to tell people and they think I am being silly or a "stick in the mud"
Like I am being a jerk or deliberately anti social or something.

I give up trying to explain but I cannot muster a fake smile - I was at a wedding 3-4 yrs ago also and everyone was dancing and cheering and doing all these group dances and I sat there.
People kept trying to encourage me but I wouldn't know what to do!! !

There is no music or emotion that would make me feel that way -

I am wondering what it is they are feeling?

Is it "real" to them or are they doing this because it is learned/expected.
I don't know. (i don't really *want* to know - just talking here)
They all seem to have quite the time but any time I have been exposed to things like that (not often)
I end up feeling desperately "out of it"

I write "out of it" rather than "alone" or "isolated" - those words fail the experience.
A "normal" person would say - just get with it, wipe that frown off your face or something cruel like that.
I have TRIED and TRIED for my 44 yrs to try to adapt & I can't.

thanks to all who read this



Peko
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02 Jun 2010, 2:39 pm

Group responses at large events are too extreme, confusing & = sensory overload.


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StuartN
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02 Jun 2010, 3:09 pm

pency wrote:
Intellectually I know they are not "laughing at me" so it is not a delusional/paranoia type feeling.


I was treated with anti-psychotic medication before I was diagnosed with AS. I often have bad feelings that I attribute to myself being bad, especially with crowds, groups of people and strangers.



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02 Jun 2010, 3:15 pm

I don't feel like anyone is laughing at me but that kind of thing makes me wonder what it is about me that can't feel that kind of extreme group response. It's like I'm suddenly viewing everyone through the wrong end of a telescope and underwater too.



katzefrau
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02 Jun 2010, 9:30 pm

this sort of thing baffles & embarrasses me. there's no connection for me between feeling anything and expressing it physically (except laughter). it's when there is a group response like you describe that i feel the most aware of how strange i must seem to other people, and i get very self-conscious.


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