anyone ever experienced or heard about such a thing?

Question:

i'm a young man with anxiety and ocd issues(on meds and had sessions with psychologist).i have quite a few ocd obssessions and compulsions under control(anxiety too).the problem is that i find it very difficult to work or perform tasks when people are looking at me(i sort of freeze).i sometimes feel like running away(when i am walking in a quiet or not so busy area) when a person(s) glances or looks at me-i have a sort of adrenaline surge and sort of jerk(as if there is danger).i know it is irrational but has become like a reflex action(second nature)-very embarrasing in public.when people enter rooms or just pass by(rooms that i am in)i feel like taking off.i actually run (jerk) as i mentioned earlier.i have been forced to stop work because it was impossible to cope.people always judge me negatively.therapist told me it is anxiety.has anyone heard or experienced such things?would anyone please cast some light on it?thanking you all in advance

Answers:
I experience the exact same thing!
I feel the same adrenaline rush & feelings of 'panic' when people look at me while I am working or doing something.

I had OCD as a child - I had an obsession with counting to even numbers in my head & would become extremely agitated if I was interuppted. I washed my hands repeatedly, had obsessions with cleanliness, as well as other obsessions.

Luckily i have overcome my obsessions with time, but I still experience these 'panic attacks' that you described so well.

I think it may stem from being quite shy as a child and I would freak out when people talked to me or showed me any attention.

I'm also a perfectionist, and I believe that my desire to do things perfectly is part of the cause of these 'panic attacks'. If people are watching me when I'm doing something, I panic that I won't do it perfectly. I realise that this is irrational but I cannot help it.

Also - if I can't do something perfectly, I become extremely agitated and won't do it at all.

I'm sorry that I don't have any answers for you, but at least you know that you're not alone.

I am interested to see the answers you receive - I hope you receive the help you are looking for.

Other Answers:
aha ask on computer

i have some of those issues to a lesser extent, i dont need to quit work or run away, but i definitly feel like im being judged or something.. hopefully i can go to a doctor myself soon cause im severly depressed on top of it, but i dont have insurance. im pretty sure its anxiety.cant shed much light on it, but your not alone, keep up the fight.

I dont have OCD, or anxiety, or any other psychological problems, of which I am aware. Sometimes, though, when I am in a room alone, and someone comes in, or walks by, I get a tad startled because I was not expecting anyone to do that. It does not bother me though.

I also have trouble preforming a task at work when I know someone is watching me specifically to observe how I am doing that task. It is a little unnerving. I do not like it. It does not prevent me from doing the task, it just breaks my concentration and my timing a bit. I think everyone is like that to some degree, though some more than others.

I had something like that to a much smaller degree. I saw a doctor and took med (I no longer do) but what helped me is my friend. He is almost absurdly confident and suggested I start to develop a sort of over the top attitude. He said walk into a room and do or say something in order to bring attention to yourself and become the center. I was a little scared to do such a thing. he said try it in situations where you are around people you know, then around small numbers of people while with people I know, then move toward larger crowds.

I would walk into a room and just talk very loud. Or say something that made no sense and then ignore that I said it. I came to feel more comfortable knowing I was in control of people watching me. Eventually I became rather out going and loved to gain attention.

It sounds dumb I know. But really all it is is forcing yourself to adapt to uncomfortable situations until you stop noticing them.

You may have a number of phobas in addition to your anxiety and OCD issues.

Ochlophobia — the fear of crowds or mobs

Ophthalmophobia — the fear of being stared at

Scriptophobia — the fear of writing in public

Sociophobia — the fear of society or people in general

Social Anxiety Disorder - the fear of being watched or humiliated in a social setting,

It really sounds like Social Anxiety Disorder - which is MORE than just simple anxiety. Here is a good article on the subject from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/991115ap/2311.html

Look at Joey Ramone, he accomplished a lot in a short life. (his band pretty much invented punk rock) He couldn't even get to gigs because he had to climb stairs into the bar, but stairs were an ocd item and he kept having to restart and recount! I think a lot of you that you acknowledge you have problems and are getting help. Good luck.

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anyone ever experienced or heard about such a thing?

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