Went to a group meeting

[EricJones]

i finally mustered up the courage to go to a mental health group meeting. I survived it. My only dilemma is whether the people sitting at the same table as me knew that i was monitoring their behaviors and body movements. I also want to know if they could tell if my body language was knee jerky (and jolty or tense) particularly my head. These thoughts will have to get better if i am to continue going to these meetings. Any thoughts?

[LoveforAll41]

Have you asked people around you if they notice your movements? Is it the end of the world if people think that Eric is a twitchy nervous guy? That is not a deal breaker to me.

You could say to them (before or after the meeting) "I am working on being vulnerable about my anxiety. I feel that I am hyperaware of others movements and sometimes mirror theirs with my own and I am sometimes "twitchy". Would you mind sharing with me what you observe about my movements"?☮️

[EricJones in reply to LoveforAll41]

but how annoying does that get to other people if my movements are in response to their movements?

[LoveforAll41 in reply to EricJones]

I guess that would depend on the person. I don't think it would bother me much, at least not for a two or three hour meeting where I am not interacting with that person otherwise. If someone told me they were anxious and aware of it and asked for help noticing I don't think that I would mind at all. I think asking small things of people is a great way to let people feel useful and helps all of humanity

[EricJones in reply to LoveforAll41]

how much do people pick up on body language when they're not talking to anyone?

[LoveforAll41 in reply to EricJones]

I can only answer for myself, you mean how much do I notice a person's body language if I am not talking to them? If I am seated at a table with them I might notice head jerks, I might notice knee bouncing, I don't think either would bother me. If it was very severe I might guess they have Tourettes or something, but I don't think that I would be bothered.

[EricJones in reply to LoveforAll41]

so you might notice my head jerking if i were reacting to your movements?

[Hidden]

Hi Eric Jones, man you are to be commended! Congratulations, you accomplished something you feared! No one said a word and you passed the test...buddy you are 1 for 1 and batting a thousand, super! Don't even try to talk down this big achievement, just chalk it up as a win. Do it again and keep doing it. If you fail, don't give up because no one is going to be hurt if you jerk your neck or sneeze. Some things we do are natural and expected as we're all human beings.Again congratulations my friend, you're on a roll!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😉

[EricJones in reply to Hidden]

thanks Navar i appreciate it

[Teaching]

Congratulations Eric, it's one step at a time. You are making a lot of progress. Don't stop going.

[EricJones in reply to Teaching]

thanks i wont

[Hidden]

Isn’t the point of going to a group meeting to deal with the problems that you described? The people in the group are there to help you with these problems, not to judge you.

[EricJones in reply to Hidden]

but my problems i have to tell them, my problems are subconscious