Social anxiety going up to a locked door?

Post Reply New Topic

I have this problem where I feel reluctant to go into a store if it looks like it's closed (some shops don't always put a closed sign on the door). If I don't see anyone in there or if the people that are in there look like staff pottering around getting ready for a staff meeting or something, I sometimes avoid going in that particular shop at the moment because I just feel self-conscious or embarrassed going up to a locked door.

When I once done volunteering work at a charity shop, we had to close the shop because it was due to be refurbished so we were moving all the stock out of the way. People kept coming to the door, thinking it was open like it usually is, only to realise it's locked. But a couple of the volunteers I was with kept laughing at anyone who tried the door, saying things like "it's closed today, dummy!" - but obviously not so they can hear. But it was still stupid and unkind to laugh at customers who didn't expect the shop to be closed.
But I often think that trying a door that is locked is a stupid thing to do and I feel that people will laugh at me, especially if there is staff inside a closed shop. I can imagine them snickering to each other, "go away stupid customer, the store obviously isn't open today!"

Anyway, does anyone get what I mean and do you feel like this too? Is it part of social anxiety?

Sure, I'll get that. First, I drive by the store front to look inside to be sure before going up to it though. It's just being self-conscious of being rejected. Keep in mind that the workers of the store (if they're in there) have dealt with so many people who have done the same thing. I myself have worked in retail and laughed at these people too. It's just some convenient humor to help get through how terrible it is working in retail.