Does anyone else feel like they make people uncomfortable
Just wondering if it is me or just paranoia but does anyone feel like they make people uncomfortable by just being around, almost like you suck the fun out of the room. I'm not very talkative mostly because I'm not very good at talking, but when I'm around people I feel like I make the people I'm around uncomfortable without saying a word. I feel like I've never really known how to act in public not in the sense that I say or do anything especially strange but I guess in the sense of how I carry myself. I feel like anyone I come in contact with thinks I'm creepy or slow. I know that some of this is just me just being paranoid but I know that's not all of it. Does anyone else feel like this or have some advice?
This seems to happen to me when I show up dressed as Q at a Star Trek Convention
filled with Starfleet club members, especially when they hold high ranks such as Captain
or Admiral. I tend to think they feel threatened or insecure.
On the other hand, people who aren't Star Trek fans seem to really like it
when I'm in costume as Q and
are even attracted to me.
And in normal, everyday life ... I would say yes, I make people uncomfortable
in certain social situations.
I think part of that is simply being single and daring to go out in public alone.
Such is life.
I'm not going to hide under the bed
while everybody else goes out and enjoys things
just because they have somebody to go out with
and I don't.
...
filled with Starfleet club members, especially when they hold high ranks such as Captain
or Admiral. I tend to think they feel threatened or insecure.
On the other hand, people who aren't Star Trek fans seem to really like it
when I'm in costume as Q and
are even attracted to me.
And in normal, everyday life ... I would say yes, I make people uncomfortable
in certain social situations.
I think part of that is simply being single and daring to go out in public alone.
Such is life.
I'm not going to hide under the bed
while everybody else goes out and enjoys things
just because they have somebody to go out with
and I don't.
...
ok I don't know anything about star trek but I get the point. thanks for replying.
The good news is that your social radar is functioning because you can pick up on the uncomfortable feeling. I think you're going to have to wait until this happens, then ask someone about it directly- ask what you did that was wrong and what they think you should have done instead. And don't take whatever they say personally. Conversations are a skill and this is how you hone that skill. You will have to ask RIGHT after it happens or the person you ask won't remember.
It could be that you're standing half a step too far away from everyone else. Or that you interrupted someone when you thought they were finished speaking. Or maybe they expected you to continue a sentence but you stopped talking. It could be many, many different things, all very minor. That's why you'll have to ask.
I was once in a class where we were all given the assignment of doing things like this on purpose and recording the reactions of other people. Sometimes people will laugh when you do the wrong thing, sometimes they ignore you, sometimes they get angry. One person stopped being friends with me after I asked her a question that had no answer. It was an interesting assignment.
It could be that you're standing half a step too far away from everyone else. Or that you interrupted someone when you thought they were finished speaking. Or maybe they expected you to continue a sentence but you stopped talking. It could be many, many different things, all very minor. That's why you'll have to ask.
I was once in a class where we were all given the assignment of doing things like this on purpose and recording the reactions of other people. Sometimes people will laugh when you do the wrong thing, sometimes they ignore you, sometimes they get angry. One person stopped being friends with me after I asked her a question that had no answer. It was an interesting assignment.
thanks for the advice. I guess your right I'll never know what I'm doing wrong until I ask.
I promise I'll ask some day when I work up the confidence.
You know what? I got to thinking about that assignment. Another thing you could do is record yourself in a group of people and then transcribe what happens. You can look up the laws where you live to see if it's legal. In Virginia if one of the parties being recorded knows about it, it's legal. You could set your phone to record and put it in your pocket.
You might notice something out of place on your own, or you can ask someone anonymously, such as posting it on here.
It's like that for me at family gatherings. Those that don't know me all that well but have seen my meltdowns, especially when I was little, are afraid of setting me off. And it makes them uncomfortable that I sit by myself and rock back and forth and look like I'm "in my own little world" even though I'm actually very attentive.
Yeah, I feel like that sometimes. Like I'm just a nuisance to them and they just have to tolerate me because I'm their so-called 'friend.' I don't know, it sucks because they never truly tell you straight up that you are. They just sort of give you little hints and clues here and there so you know specifically that it's you who's mainly irking them/making them feel uncomfortable.
yea I don't like family gathering either
I think was in a somewhat similar situation. For me I was fine just hanging out with my close friends and I could talk and laugh normally with them, but when they wanted to go out and they introduced me to their other friends I always just came off as weird and awkward because I wasn't good at talking to other people outside my circle. because of this I felt like I was letting my friends down I was just some creep they had to invite along, so I eventually stopped going out with them.
Yeah, but try looking at it differently. It's not you trying to hang out with some other people. It's you being there, some other people happening to be there too, and they get the benefit of your company. It's not an exclusive club that you need membership to get in. There's probably nothing special about any of the people you're around, so there's no reason to impress anyone.
For example, let's imagine a guy comes over from France. He speaks some English, but doesn't understand American expressions or culture all that well. He's going to mess things up all the time, right? Sit too close to people, dress wrong, say things wrong, not understand things...no one expects him to. You can find your own way of justifying your differences. Maybe you're okay with saying you're on the spectrum, or maybe you feel more comfortable saying you're shy or socially awkward or whatever. People will accept that and not have the same expectations for you that they do other people. Just like the French guy in my example.
For example, let's imagine a guy comes over from France. He speaks some English, but doesn't understand American expressions or culture all that well. He's going to mess things up all the time, right? Sit too close to people, dress wrong, say things wrong, not understand things...no one expects him to. You can find your own way of justifying your differences. Maybe you're okay with saying you're on the spectrum, or maybe you feel more comfortable saying you're shy or socially awkward or whatever. People will accept that and not have the same expectations for you that they do other people. Just like the French guy in my example.
Its hard for me to say that sometimes but sometimes I do say things along those lines to take the pressure of me.
Yes, I have often felt like people are uncomfortable around me when I first meet them. After making friends that aren't on the spectrum and holding various people-oriented jobs, though, I say you have to give people a benefit of the doubt. Maybe they are jerks, but maybe they just legitimately don't understand you. Try on a mask, and see how it fits. If they respond well to it, try to play the game. If you mess up, apologize.
Loveurself
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 67
Location: North Dakota
I've learned to stop focusing on me too much while talking to people. When I talk to people, I sometimes feel like I'm having an outer body experience. I start to think about myself, how I look, why is he/she asking me about the weather etc., is this enough eye contact, why are they so close to me, I'm not in the mood to talk, am I making the right facial expressions, do I look bored? The list goes on.
I realized I was insecure. What helped me was realizing that what other people have to say, is no more important than what I have to say. I now focus on what they say instead of myself and I don't let my actions or anyone else's make me feel bad during a conversation.
I've realized that we are all unique, so when I talk to someone, I am just giving them an oportunity to get to know me. If they don't like me, then what can I say (shrug), who cares. We only live once and there is no one else in this whole world that is like you. So don't feel bad if you are different; your meant to be different and maybe even a little weird.
I always like weird. it make things interesting.
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