Still a success or no?

[EricJones]

If I'm doing stuff with people regularly but feel closed off and giving people no eye contact and my head is down a lot to avoid people, is this still progress that I'm out and about with people?

[AM2004]

of course it's never a one night process and probably you would feel more pressure and uncomfortable before things take a turn for better, i am (and i'm sure a great deal in the community would join me in this) proud of you and would encourage you to keep going 💙

[EricJones in reply to AM2004]

But does the anxiety decrease eventually, or could I go out and every time and feel intense fear?

[AM2004 in reply to EricJones]

for me atleast the anxiety would be there for the foreseeable future but the same stuff that i'd sweat usually, wouldn't get to me as hard and i suggest slowly finding new things to make yourself slightly uncomfortable with, also as you get to know the group it would get much easier very fast but with people in general it takes time and for me at least it's sort of learning a skill, the task is hard labarous still but i learn to deal with it better any way that has been my experience, would love to hear more about your thoughts on the matter

[Alpakka123]

Yep!! You're doing really well!!👍👍👍

[EricJones in reply to Alpakka123]

Like, I just had an interaction a person at the store and am wondering how to see that as a positive sign that not all humans are bad.

[Alpakka123 in reply to EricJones]

I don't understand. Are you saying that you think you're bad? Or are you saying that you think the person you interacted with at the store is bad?

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

You may have heard the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day." That's what we have here. It will take time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Eventually you will be able to make eye contact and will feel less tense when out and about.

But you have to give time time. Keep doing what you are doing. Remember what you worked with your therapist on. Any coping skills like accept the uncomfortable sensations as just that sensations and carry on with your day.

Yes eventually in time the anxiety will lessen and you won't feel as intense. But anxiety will always be with you. It just will become background noise. You might feel it on some days and some days it's like it's not even there. Because anxiety is the flip side of the coin. On the other side of that coin is excitement. It's just One more pleasing than the other.

Also I want to add your thing about eye contact. A lot of people don't make direct eye contact. Especially if they are strangers. And that's because I contact is seen as much more intimate. So a lot of people save that for people that they care about. And also a lot of people do have issues with direct eye contact . Because it makes them feel a bit uncomfortable. Like you are judging them. So I wouldn't get obsessed about not giving someone direct eye contact.

And give yourself credit for going out there and putting yourself out there. Having social interactions like you going to the store and just answering the cashier's question: Did you find everything okay? A win. That's pretty good for somebody who avoids people. And again eventually with time you will get better at it. But you have to give time time.

[Midori]

Yes, it's progress, things will seem easier once you can convince your inner critic.

Cheers, Midor