in public, is everybody continually looking at other people?

Question:

whenever I go outside, especially in public places and around town I feel that everytime a person walks past me it is a psychological hell. I see the stranger coming from like 20 yrds away and quickly I look down, avert my eyes, and then as I get closer to them I feel like they are doing the same thing and looking quickly and pretending that they don't notice or care. but in my experience, i notice every single person I pass on the sidewalk and actually think about them. IWalking down the street is a nightmare now because I have this deep psychological interaction with every person I pass. Will I look away or look them in the face? If I look them in the face, they win. If I look away, I win. But then they realize I'm gonna look away and they look away first, so they win...it's a struggle, every day just walking down the street it's a psychological struggle. can anybody else relate?

Answers:
Yes! I am continually looking at people. I do look them in the eyes. I myself think it is rude to look away. So I look them in the eyes and I smile and say Hi! Most of the time they smile back and say hi back. I do think about the people I see. I wonder what there life is like? Are they depressed? Are they poor? Sometimes I say a little pray for God to help them especially if I see sadness. I wonder what they think about me? I'm self-conscious about my weight and I wonder if people think boy shes fat. I am over weigh and struggle with this. Some people are cruel and think bad things about people instead of good things. I try to remember to be kind in my thoughts of others. Because until you live in their shoes you don't know the troubles other people face. Troubles that could be 100 percent worse than yours. It sounds like you would like to change your behavior. You can, it may take a while to do it. Start slow and just look every person in the eyes and just smile. After you get confidence then add a hi. You sound like you have programed your brain to play this game you have made up. Plus I think you have anxiety. You could see a doctor to see if you need meds for this type of anxiety. You also seem like you are putting up a shield sorta like trying to protect yourself from harm. Maybe you have some issues to work out with a therapist. God gave us eyes to see everything. Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. I know you can do it. Life is what we make it. If you need a little help get it. We all need help with certain things in our lives. Hugs! Von!

Other Answers:
You are seriously overthinking every day activities which is a sign of mental illness. Go see a doctor.

No because I don't lack self confidence. I have no problems looking people in the eye as I walk by them, If you look back I'll probably give you a smile or say good day!

I personally don't pay attention to much of anybody else when I'm out in public. I think you're displaying some signs of serious anxiety. Talk with a psychologist. Nobody's singling you out. They're just running around doing their thing.

this question certainly belongs in the mental health area!

try saying "hello" once in a while, it might make you less paranoid... nobody's trying to "win" anything, people are just unsure of whether they are going to say "hi" or just keep walking... you don't want to be rude, but at the same time you act not interested because the other person is unlikely to say hello... it is a weird social behavior that people do, but you shouldn't be worried about it!

I'm constantly checkin others out when I'm out anywhere. I wonder what they are thinking about and I wonder what they think about me..

Yes, I can relate. When you're stressed out, exhausted, or in poor mental health for some reason, you start to see the world in strange ways. I've been there.

Your description seems to suggest that you're suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and paranoia.

You shouldn't be ashamed or embarassed that you're having these thoughts, any more than you should be ashamed or embarassed by having the flu. It's a health issue, not a personality issue, and you're not the only one who has these problems.

If you get some treatment, you can probably get these feelings under control, so I recommend you get some counseling. It can change your life, and open up a new world of possibilities for you that you never imagined.

You need to give your mind a chance to rest and gain some perspective. Working with a counselor can help you learn how to do that.

At the very least, talk about these feelings with someone that you trust. You'll find that the more you get your internal thought processes out in the open, the less they will bother you.

I hope you find a way to restore your peace of mind, and I hope these suggestions are helpful.

You probably have social anxiety disorder, aka social phobia. Lots of people have it! You can work it out with a therapist or psychologist. It's all a matter of practicing how to confront your fears. :)

Best of luck to you!

P.S. Here's a good website that can help you figure out exactly what social anxiety is: http://www.socialphobia.org/

I think I have the same prob.

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in public, is everybody continually looking at other people?

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