Lost ability to smile and greet passers by?

Question:

Its starting to bother me more and more that I never make eye contact with passers by and smile. It seems I always have a blank look about me, I mean even when I know someone is looking at me I seem to not look in their direction to acknowledge them and nod or smile or whatever.

I use to Smile and say Hi to alot of people. Now I cant even say acknowledge the people I see in my everyday activities like the gym or neighbors.

I feel that I have been doing this so much that I'm in a hole that I cant get out of.

Im getting ready to start college in a couple weeks and although im excited about it, I'm afraid that I will be the "stuck-up guy who dont talk to anyone"

I know this is no excuse, but I'm 37 and have 2 daughters that I love, but their mothers have physical custody of them.

Answers:
OK, in my humble opinion, at the moment this is not a major problem. At the moment you are dropping into a cycle of negative thinking. You have to start slowly to force yourself to start acknowledging people in the way you used to. Not exactly how you used to at first, but start with eye contact and a nod if you can. If you find this difficult, don't beat yourself up about it, just try again next time. Be conscious that this is in your head, and is not a major deal. Look, acknowledge, nod that's it. When you are felling ok about doing that, move forward with perhaps a hi, if you can and so on.
OK now the bad news, this negative thought pattern that you have started to feel and think, if you don't try to get out of it now I'm afraid you could start to downward spiral and can lead to anxiety and/or panic disorders, with depression. I'm telling you from here at the bottom of the spiral looking up, please don't slip down here, because it's not too late for you. I can't even leave the house now. It's a vicious circle, negative thought patterns, can be dropped into so easily, but can take years, if ever to get out. Even with all the help and all the meds in the world, if you can't break that negative downward spiral you stuff up your life and those who love you. You can stop this now.

If this were just how you'd always been, not a problem. Since it represents a change, go see your doctor and get checked out. It sounds a little like depression, but anemia can do the same thing just by making you tired and a little slow to act.

Whatever it is probably won't get better on its own, so go now.

Lost ability to smile and greet passers by?

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