Walk "funny", write "funny"

Kalima

Well-known member
I know the topic of this forum may seem a little off the charts. But anyhow, I just wanted to see if anyone ever feels anywhere from a moderately to extremely uncomfortable just walking around in public or when writing in front of other people. Do you feel your muscles almost tighten up and refuse to "follow your orders" because your anxiety may seem overwhelming? Do you find that you can walk with ease and write with ease when no one is around, no audience, but have trouble doing it even in front of people you know? I've encountered these things and would like some responses to see if I'm not the only one. if you can relate and have learned how to handle these problems, plz tell us how U did it! Thanks guys!
 

redlady

Well-known member
First of all let me assure you that you are not the only one. I am uncomfortable doing pretty much anything in front of others. My fears and insecurities and the anxiety that results, 'retards' me so to speak. Like you said it has a controlling effect on my body and speech. I hate it because i have so much inside of me, but my anxiety puts a strangle hold on it and i am too weak to wrestle for control.
When i am walking around i listen to music to distract me, and i seem to walk really fast everywhere - if i am ever with anybody they complain about it - I also tend not to look at people - just walk past oblivious to those around me, that's where the music blasting away in my ears comes in handy. I don't know if any of that is actually constructive but that is how i handle myself.
 

paul

Well-known member
I know what you mean. Sometimes people say I walk weird cuz I don't swing my arms (I mean wtf!!) and it makes me nervous. I think walking and writing are very common fears for people with SA. I am a little obsessive-compulsive about my handwriting, so I always feel nervous when I'm writing around people, especially strangers.

I could never write something that involves opinion or a story in front of others, it's just too nervewracking. Doing like ... spelling sheets or something like that would be easier though.
 

Danfalc

Banned
Cant say i have a problem with writing in front of people, but if im up town or somewhere really busy, i get that anxious that all my muscles tense up and i probaly walk like a complete muppet :lol:

Wish i had some advice for you because its somthing which really does my nut in.What red said is a good idea about listening to music doing that has helped me a bit.Hope you find somthing which helps you.
 

allanboy

Well-known member
i´ve always thought that i walked weird. Sometimes i walk at people around me and imitate their moves(i love doing this) and try to be another one in the crowd. But lately i´ve been acting weird, on purpose, for some reason. Been liking it so far :)
 
[quote="redlady and i seem to walk really fast everywhere - if i am ever with anybody they complain about it - I also tend not to look at people - just walk past oblivious to those around me,.[/quote]

hehe me too, when walking through a supermarket i seem to walk twice as fast as everybody else.... i'm always on a mission to get whatever i need to get and then leave, i don't usually like to do what most other ppl do and just amble around and browse at every shop on the way to get what their after.. but being in a supermarket doesn't make me too uncomfortable or anything, however when i'm walking with someone else it feels frustrating to have to walk at their pace when i used to walking really quickly! :roll:

ohh and i do sometimes feel self consious walking in public (not that often) but not writing. good day
 
[quote="redlady and i seem to walk really fast everywhere - if i am ever with anybody they complain about it - I also tend not to look at people - just walk past oblivious to those around me,.[/quote]

hehe me too, when walking through a supermarket i seem to walk twice as fast as everybody else.... i'm always on a mission to get whatever i need to get and then leave, i don't usually like to do what most other ppl do and just amble around and browse at every shop on the way to get what their after.. but being in a supermarket doesn't make me too uncomfortable or anything, however when i'm walking with someone else it feels frustrating to have to walk at their pace when i used to walking really quickly! :roll:

ohh and i do sometimes feel self consious walking in public (not that often) but not writing. good day
 

paul

Well-known member
I tend to walk fast too :lol: I find that in cities, people walk a lot faster, and talk to you less. But the problem is, there are more of them! In the country they are so ... relaxed and slow-paced (for the most part). It irritates me :roll:
 

Pesik

Member
Heh I am opposite :p I have been told I walk slower than most people. I do get very self concious of the way I walk while in public and this annoys me so very much. I notice that I am all tensed up and this makes me even more nervous which causes more anxiety :p Bad cycle heh.
Writing I am ok with, its just the walking that gets to me :roll:
 

Kalima

Well-known member
Pesik said:
Heh I am opposite :p I have been told I walk slower than most people. I do get very self concious of the way I walk while in public and this annoys me so very much. I notice that I am all tensed up and this makes me even more nervous which causes more anxiety :p Bad cycle heh.
Writing I am ok with, its just the walking that gets to me :roll:

Pesik, I can definitely relate to that. But do you find yourself also consciously trying to appear "normal" when you're walking but find that you still look "weird" and feel like people are staring at you all the time? I feel like this and it's really nerve wrecking at times.
 

Boundless

Well-known member
I hate writing infront of others,my writing is bad allways has been and my typings not much better in front of others either :x

Out walking i tend to focus on walking in a straight line,but some times i feel like my legs are just going to give out on me :oops: would hate to just be walking along and then just colapse into a heap.
 

Kalima

Well-known member
Boundless said:
I hate writing infront of others,my writing is bad allways has been and my typings not much better in front of others either :x

Out walking i tend to focus on walking in a straight line,but some times i feel like my legs are just going to give out on me :oops: would hate to just be walking along and then just colapse into a heap.

I feel your pain Boundless! But with me, I'm not at all afraid of talking to people; I can hold conversations freely. But when it comes to writing and walking in front of people, especially when I feel like their eyes are just attached to me instead of minding their own business, things get rough. But I haven't always had this problem, the "walking" thing started when I was about 14 and I'm almost 20 now. The "writing" thing started when I was about 17 and it's really frustrating cos it's hard as hell to do well on exams (esp. essays) when I gotta think about writing neatly instead of just taking the test you know. Does anyone else have any of these problems?
 

2QuietForThem

Well-known member
I know the feeling very well, but with me it’s not just writing in front of people – it’s doing anything that puts me at the center of attention. I recently got a service award at work and I was called “up front” so that everyone could see me accept it. OMG the agony! Of course, afterwards, I critiqued everything about what I had done. As for walking, I can haul a**. Started back in high school about 23 yrs ago – I knew that there were a lot of people who would have loved to have harmed me for no reason. That’s when the SA started to kick in. I had to walk fast so that no one would notice me and to protect myself. The only good thing about walking fast is that the people begging for money or offering to sell me something on the street can’t keep up with my speed.
 

GhostBoy

New member
I'm glad you made this post, cuz I have the exact same problems. But instead of walking fast to alleviate the freight of walking, I tend to slow down or concentrate Too much on it, like calculating each step, or seeing who's in front of me. If I see someone in front of me, I get real anxious, and I throw my walk out of whack and I walk funny the rest of the way, that's why I usually always look down. Sometimes, I just walk like a weirdo so people would think of me as some type of weirdo and take my walking as normal for a person like me, but I only do that ever so often. What I have found that has helped me, is that I think to myself to "act normal" And when I tell myself that over and over again, my heart beat starts to slow down and I walk "normally." This usually does the trick, but it is hard to maintain yourself in that zone continuously, cuz your mind wants to go back to your insecurities. I usually drift back and forth. I do this with writing, talking, walking, presenting, just standing in front of a group of people. I just tell myself to act normal and I calm myself. But sometimes I give in, I heard meditation helps to make you last in that zone longer, so I will try that and see what it does. If this helps anyone let me know :)
 
Top