Hi Sarah,

Yes, I know this feeling. IMHO it is a part of the problem of self criticism that comes with anxiety. As soon as we have said something we quickly mentally check it to see whether was acceptable to the other person. We spend our time self censoring! The bottom line is that we are afraid that we will be judged as bad or mad, whichever we fear most. The anxiety will always lock onto our worst fears.

As a reality check I think of the many people I have known who have been downright rude to others and yet still did very well for themselves, both in work and socially. Maybe they get on well because they just don't care? It's a kind of self confidence whch anxious people always seem to lack.

On top of this, once we start thinking that we have the 'guilty secret' of a mental illness, then the anxiety seems to close in on us.

My own strategy for this is to be very nice to everyone I meet in 3d, but as you folks know, that gets me into situations I don't really want.

I guess we are just over sensitive to rejection (for whatever reason).

You have done really well to get out there and share some of your stuff, and risk the reactions. You did good, Sarah!

Good thoughts. M

PS - Just spotted your post, funnygirl. I agree with you about the confiding.