I wish I didn't need so much help

[EricJones]

I'm sitting next to two "group colleagues" now. Nothings being discussed and everyone is silent...how do I not give myself away that I'm not paying attention to them? I feel like when it's this slow and this quiet people can notice subtle behaviors

[Agora1]

Eric, I can pretty much say that when there is silence, everyone gets a little uncomfortable.

It's not just you my friend. xx

[EricJones in reply to Agora1]

so how do you handle the silence/them noticing that i'm paying attention to them, when it gets really silent?

[Puzzler1501]

People love to talk about themselves and often don't notice things about us that we feel are glaringly obvious. I'm sure if you just nod from time to time your level of interest will go unnoticed. If you feel particularly awkward you can always say things like, "tell me more about that" and drift right back into your daydream. Good luck!😊

[AnxiousSilver]

Uncomfortable silence has probably been a thing since the beginning of time. People just don't really notice it as much now since a lot are looking at their cell phones.

There's gonna be groups (and future gatherings too for that matter) where that is going to happen.

.

Sometimes that could be a good thing though.

Maybe everyone had a decent week.

.

But.. (believe me) there will be support group meetings where people will all want to talk from a rough week, but there's not enough time in the meeting for everyone to do so.

[EricJones in reply to AnxiousSilver]

there was a guy who was just sitting there, and not saying anything. no phone out, nothing. just sitting there and moving around a lot (my worst nightmare). A person capable of looking around in silence and detecting me noticing them move around. Or hear me hear something.

[AnxiousSilver in reply to EricJones]

I may not have your condition, but at the same time I kinda get why that would probably bother you.

[EricJones in reply to AnxiousSilver]

well, when everyone else is silent...it would seem like they could hear a pin drop fall from the floor. so i just assume they can hear me hear their noises if its that silent

[EricJones in reply to EricJones]

yeah it scares me