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Old Aug 16, 2013, 02:13 AM
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neutrino neutrino is offline
Poohbah
 
Member Since: Aug 2013
Location: The North.
Posts: 1,105
Quote:
Originally Posted by A Red Panda View Post
Yay for you for doing an exposure!

My T wants to get me to go to something like zumba or yoga or the gym on my own. I want to go with a friend, but so far none of my friends will commit to going. I just can't go on my own - I wouldn't return a second time. I have issues with trying new things in front of people, and I'm terrified of how red my face goes when I exercise - plus I do not like making mistakes, or having people wonder why I'm there on my own. I think when he told me that I said "Good luck getting me to do that" or something.

So instead I've been doing things that I have done before, but that still make me uncomfortable (like going to the theatre or to a restaurant on my own). Although I DID go and get a pedicure and was horrified while I was going through it and I can't say I enjoyed it at all, but I did get through it and I did not have a meltdown.

You'll stll always be you though, you know. Even if you change, it'll still be YOU.
That sounds a lot like me. I'm incredibly afraid of mistakes and doing things in front of people. Anyway, good on you for going to all those places alone without having a meltdown! Can I tell you about a small exposure I did yesterday? I just want to tell someone so if you don't want to read about it skip the next part:

One of my disorders is social anxiety disorder and I fear pretty much anything involving people unless I know the person very well and we're in a safe environment (i.e. at home). Whenever I go out I bring my backpack because it, for some reason, makes me feel a little bit safer. I think I feel like my back is protected from other people's eyes when I wear it. Going out is quite a big problem for me in general. I do go out quite often but as soon as I leave my room I think that people are looking at me, laughing at me and judging me. I think that they think I'm weird or fat or have a bad posture and things like that.

Anyway, yesterday I managed to go to the supermarket (which is about a 7 minute walk from my parent's house) and back without my backpack. My parents live in a small city and it was during the evening so not many people were out or in the supermarket. I wasn't too anxious and it went well. Feels pretty good. It will be much worse when I'm back home though (I live in a bigger city) so my anxiety level will be higher then, but still.
Hugs from:
A Red Panda
Thanks for this!
A Red Panda