Quoted from The Next One: If I were to take a guess I'd say the overwhelming likelihood is that it allows me to control the way I'm perceived so that others will see me how I want to be seen, rather than how I may otherwise naturally appear.

I could not figure out how to quote, so I pasted it above.

I feel so often that I am monitoring myself and surrounds and reactions of others. I often wonder what they are really thinking. I think this is due to my fear of being seen as I am really am...depressed, overwhelmed and anxious. I don't want to be these things and I don't want others to know I am.

It is often very uncomfortable and due to this I tend to avoid social situations because they feel so overwhelming. I don't like me, so why would anyone else? I often feel like a pretend person.