What Other People Think

[indigorebecka]

Hi, I’m Becka and I’m new here. This is sort of a last-ditch effort to find someone besides my therapist who can really understand me.

I struggle with GAD,and it focuses a lot on what other people think. Specifically, what other people think of me. I can’t even accomplish simple tasks without worrying about everyone I’ve ever met judging me. Today I pushed myself too far at work because I couldn’t bring myself to stop when my body told me to. What if my coworkers didn’t believe I was really hurting? They can’t see my back pain, what if they thought I was faking? Last week I couldn’t handle working on a high catwalk because the height was too much, but this week I seem okay. Is that kind of inconsistency going to make people think I’m not “really ill”? Are my good days going to invalidate my bad ones?

I’m exhausted from explaining myself, as if rambling on and on about why I feel the way I do is going to validate me. I’m amazed my coworkers and friends haven’t just told me to shut up by now. They must think I’m overcompensating or trying too hard to convince them I really do have a problem.

Someone just tell me I’m not alone here. There has to be someone, somewhere who gets this. Please.

[Hidden]

Yup I have to keep this voice in check a lot

[designguy]

Hi Indigo, it's possible that you have social anxiety disorder, not GAD. I was diagnosed as having GAD for years. It wasn't until I realized that what i really had was social anxiety disorder that I was then able to make progress and recover. The treatment for social anxiety is specific for the disorder.