How do you respond to compliments?

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I have recently found that receiving compliments has a different effect on me than it used to when I was younger.

When I was younger, compliments on, for example, achievements in school, or on drawings that I made, or things in general, would make me feel very happy and good. It's related to how I suffer a bit of fear of failure, and am also a perfectionist as a result of that fear. I'm prone to insecurities, and compliments really used to lift me up.

These days, however, following a couple of years in which I saw myself fail to achieve certain goals that I had set for myself, I found that whenever someone is complimenting me on doing my work well, or making good progress in my courses, or on my knowledge on certain subjects, I find that it has the effect on me of shutting me down, like a clam closing its shell. I tend to get shy and brush the compliment off like I used to when I was younger, but instead of seeing the compliment as an impetus to continue on that road, I instead dwell on my insecurities and view the complimented achievement as an exception to the rule, that rule being that I mostly fail at things, and only succeed by extraordinary exception (making my successes almost like flukes).
Even online, I have been complimented on writing reports about activities I had done (mostly reviewing conventions, festivals and the like) and when some of the posters requested in advance that I write a report of a cultural festival, I just closed down completely and couldn't go through with it (because of the expectations).

On a related note, a second point on receiving compliments I'd like to discuss, is how you RESPOND to the person giving the compliment. I find that I usually brush it off (even if it made me feel great), or sometimes even fail to notice that it's actually a compliment in the moment itself, only realising that it was one in hindsight. I tend not to give a counter-compliment.

So, how is it with you guys?

If I notice, I say 'thanks.' But if it's subtle enough I don't notice until someone points it out later.

I'm always a bit worried they're being sarastic or about to follow it with 'but...' followed by tearing my work to pieces in front of me.

I think I don't get the facial expressions right either because they'll often immediately follow with 'no seriously.. I really like it'. The combination of the two issues cancel each other out

Yes I get the same way-I feel very undeserving and just want to hide. I do not like being the center of attention at all.

I don't really have the same internal reaction as you, but in terms of responding to the person complimenting?

It's really weird. I do want to be praised for my hard work, so I get it out there. And as soon as I get compliments I don't really know what to say other than thank you. I start to feel like there's no closure to it and I can feel a little empty or panicky. And many times I worry that people will think I'm just fishing for compliments (and am I?)

I do not like to be complimented, in general. I feel very uncomfortable. I actually prefer when my boss passes my work off for hers and she gets complimented. I know that is probably weird, but it's what I prefer.

I have taught myself to simply smile and say thank you. It is not my natural inclination regarding how to respond, but I find if I try to deflect the compliment, people either feel the need to persist, or they think that I am fishing for more compliments.

I feel very uncomfortable being complimented. I can't believe they really mean it, I suspect an ulterior motive and I over analyse why they did it. I'm very self-deprecating so it's hard to believe that when I see all my inadequacies that others can't too.

It's rare that I acknowledge a compliment and when I do it is just a thank you and nothing else having no feelings about the compliments.

I definitely say 'thank you' in order to acknowledge it, but otherwise I don't really expect them and have no ide how to respond to them. Afterwards, I think of how I could have responded better by paying the other person a compliment in return or being a bit nicer on top of saying 'thanks'.

Compliments tend to make me feel embarrassed. I'm not sure why this is, but I've felt that way most of my adult life. I usually deflect the praise with some kind of dumb self-deprecating remark or just say "thank you" and change the subject. If someone compliments you are they expecting a compliment in return? I'm never quite sure how the exchange is supposed to work really.

I like to respond with a simple thank you.

I was taught to say thank you and so I do. I get off the subject quickly.

I came to realise a few years ago that a lot of compliments are simply white lies, so I acknowledge the compliment without letting it affect my view of myself.

"Thank you" seems to work. Sometimes you can even make the person complimenting you feel good that way. Warm fuzzies all around!

Compliments used to make me uncomfortable, because I didn't know how to respond to them, but I think that I have figured out a good response now. I usually say "Thank you" in a confident manner, not shy or embarassed, because there is nothing to be shy or embarassed about. I find that I like this particular response from people when I compliment them, so I give it out too. I also learned to compliment others. I used to not know how to do that, but now I realized that if I like something that someone made or something that someone did, then I should just tell them so directly. It makes eberryone happy and improves social relations for sure. And I am not faking anything, because I genuinely believe what I say. I have just learned to ackshuly get it out of my mouth now.

I usually say thank you. Compliments have become important to me, because it helps with my self-esteem, since each time I get a funny look or a silly laugh from someone in public, it destroys me inside, so I appreciate compliments and reassurance, whether they might be lying or not. I find NTs don't really lie to me, because usually people who I trust give me compliments, and they're the ones who want to help me.