[jaypop30]

I often find myself overwhelmed with the energy that people put off that all I want to do is hide in my room. I find my own solitude is my safe haven. My company is my comfort zone. I don't really like people at all in fact they can scare me at times. Does anyone feel this way or is it just me?

[Victoria'smom]

I have tons of anxiety around people whether in a group or individually. I also have this weird thing that if I'm not in contact w. a person for a while they feel like complete strangers.

I get this more in groups but I am not so bad one to one.

[BipolaRNurse]

Depends on the situation, and my mood at a given time. I'm a flaming extrovert who enjoys talking to people much of the time; but when I'm in a depressive phase, all I want to do is hide under a rock, and if I'm in a dysphoric state I actually hate people, both individually AND in groups. LOL

[BlackPup]

I like being around people who I trust. I get bored on my own. I don't tend to like big crowds coz I can't hear what people are saying.

[grlnmt66]

I like BipolaRNurses phrase "flaming extrovert" Im an extroverted introvert... most of the time I love ppl and enjoy being around them...THEN there are times I need to..want to isolate...not for long though..one day MAX..anymore than that isnt healthy for me.

[Seaswept]

Like Bipolar nurse, It depends on my mood but a lot of the time I do feel very overwhelmed being around others (and listening to them lol). I feel like I'm overstimulated, there is always back round noise and other stuff going around.
That said, I also hate being alone. I guess being with only 1 or 2 people is best for me.

On the other hand, when I am manic, I love being around people am the life of the party- at least with people I don't know, (the people I do know think I'm acting very strangely), I make friends easily when manic and am very talkative, social, outgoing, promiscuous etc.

[roads]

I like very much being around people whe I'm in control--like at work . It's a customer-service-type job, so there's a "desk" between us!

But one-on-one? Scares me right back into my cave, pronto. Even here online. It's not that I don't like it ... It's just not in my comfort zone. Part of the bipolar dis-ease, and why I'm in therapy and most days feel as if I will be forever. I can't honestly say it ever gets easier. But I have discovered the value of it. Maybe that's where the progress is, and not in it's getting easier.

Originally Posted by jaypop30

I often find myself overwhelmed with the energy that people put off that all I want to do is hide in my room. I find my own solitude is my safe haven. My company is my comfort zone. I don't really like people at all in fact they can scare me at times. Does anyone feel this way or is it just me?

I feel like you. I don't like being around people very often, it makes me very uncomfortable. Even if it's people I know...sometimes it's still very overwhelming. So I spend majority of my time alone.

I love one on one. Groups freak me out, but I do love being around the right kind of people, not just anyone. I'm pretty closed off from people physically and mentally. But it's definitely something I'm working on. I'm a lot more confident, even over the last few years. My self esteem is a lot better and I think that is the big factor for me. I had such a low self esteem and no confidence, I really hated being around people. But now it's alot better, I'm still picky about who I am around, but I think that's just instincts.

I like people, but I find it drains my energy to be around them too much ... The bigger the crowd (especially if loud and chaotic) the more draining it is ... Therefore, I tend to avoid those situations and scenarios ... As far as the smaller interactions, I attend only what's necessary, then it takes me several hours to several days to recuperate ...

[Confusedinomicon]

I love being around people. I love talking. I love having people to talk to...

I am pretty sure I'm dyslexic though. I have a tendency to mix words up when I'm speaking...but my friends and boyfriend don't mind. I do bad in groups of 6 or more though. I have a hard time reading body language in huge group settings.

Basically, not so much, but it's kind of complicated.
Around people can be good, like running around the city. Makes me feel like "something's happening", lol. Though it can also be overwhelming sometimes and make me very skittish. Interacting with people is a different story. Generally makes me ill at ease. Not necessarily anxiety (though sometimes), as that I suck at small talk and have a hard time faking interest in things that bore the snot out of me, which is the contents of most conversation. I'm used to being an observer, and don't like being suddenly put into another role. It's disconcerting. On the other hand, when hypomanic, I'm rather obnoxiously sociable. Hardly give a flip who I'm talking to even. I'd talk to a chair! And get very expressive. And "boom!" things are out of my mouth before passing "the gatekeeper". Still, in thinking about it, these times probably don't count much towards "interaction". They can hardly get a word in.

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

... and if I'm in a dysphoric state I actually hate people, both individually AND in groups. LOL

Hahaha, thanks for admitting it! I do too, and don't keep it to myself, an example of which is often clenching my fists, throwing my head to the sky and growling in exasperation, "O.M.G. I.HATE.people! Arggggghhhh!!!" And I don't give a flip who hears it.
Better they should know.

Originally Posted by Anika

... I'm pretty closed off from people physically and mentally...

Yup. Here too.

[Trippin2.0]

I like being around people, always have, but these days I'm VERY picky about which people. Love interacting, conversing, joking and laughing, and I make friends easily. But I do have my days when I don't want company, those are my FTW days...

[irishgirliexo]

Really depends on my mood. For the most part I like to be on my own. When I'm in the right mood I hang out with a group of friends with little to no anxiety. But when I'm manic I am the opposite and am very talkative and will talk to anyone.

[Moose72]

I love being around people- those it in a bad mood of course.

[Beebizzy]

Originally Posted by jaypop30

I often find myself overwhelmed with the energy that people put off that all I want to do is hide in my room. I find my own solitude is my safe haven. My company is my comfort zone. I don't really like people at all in fact they can scare me at times. Does anyone feel this way or is it just me?

jaypop I could have written your post. I feel subsumed by other people and crave the calmness of my own space. Sometimes being around other people feels like 'work'. Other people don't seem to see it that way - they crave social interaction.

[BNLsMOM]

I like people, but I don"t like being around many in a non structured situation.

In structured situations I seem to be OK.

[faerie_moon_x]

It depends. I like being around people that I consider my friends. I have a hard time making friends so I don't really have any.... I like doing group activities with my friends, but I don't have any. I don't really like making new friends unless I know they are safe. I have no way of knowin this, so I often don't say anything to people... Do you see? This is my issue...

At work, my back is always to the people in the waiting room. This makes me extremely uncomfortable and paranoid. I don't get a lot of work done because I can't turn around.

I don't usually like being around people unless I know them really well and feel comfortable with them. There aren't many of those. I don't mind big groups or crowds because the focus is not geared towards me and I can just sit back and watch. One-on-one though with someone I don't know well at all is rough. Too much focus on me, anxiety, insecurity. Poor self-esteem, I guess. When I'm hypo, much of the anxiety is gone and I feel much more at ease talking with anyone. Depressed, I don't want to show my face to anyone.
Today I have a job interview and this is the worst case scenario for me. My anxiety is haywire right now. Stomach in knots. Shaking with anxiety. Too much focus on me, needing to impress, pressure to "fake it 'til I make it", so-to-speak. God, help me!

[Parks]

I'm much more comfortable one-on-one, compared to groups. I'm 52 and have had anxiety problems in groups since childhood. In groups I become overstimulated which eventually exhausts me. I was diagnosed BP I with mixed episodes in 1982 and one symptom of mine is a general feeling of irritability and wanting to be left alone a good bit of the time. I try to stay away from some folks at times because I'm concerned I'll snap at them. During those times I feel as if rays of venom are coming from my eyes and overall energy. Prickly is a good way to describe it, it seems like my nerve endings get supercharged and I can feel extra energy flowing in me. Even meeting just one person is too much at those times. I have an intense startle reaction and hypervigilance.
Being alone is no problem for me. It can be relaxing and finding things to do are easy. My mind is usually flying from thing to thing, and an intense curiosity about many things helps.
One way all this was handled years ago was to just stay zombified on Thorazine, Stelazine, Lithium and such. Living in a fogged up sort of semi-trance existence. I'd rather have some high and low tides, peaks and valleys, with many varied shades, compared to a dull, numb, grey kind of life though. I suspect my wife might prefer grey and dull sometimes

[bowhunt72]

I can handle crowds at the mall or wherever without too much trouble, I just don't like it much. One on one or a small support group isn't too bad and can sometimes be good depending on the people involved. Where I have trouble is with groups of people where I'm actually expected to interact with them, like at a party or a large church gathering. I prefer to hide in a corner and stay quiet, and keep conversations as short as possible if I can't avoid them altogether. Maybe I'm not quite agoraphobic, but I don't like people a whole lot.

[jaypop30]

Originally Posted by Beebizzy

jaypop I could have written your post. I feel subsumed by other people and crave the calmness of my own space. Sometimes being around other people feels like 'work'. Other people don't seem to see it that way - they crave social interaction.

Very true and I am right there with you on that feeling.

[jaypop30]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

It depends. I like being around people that I consider my friends. I have a hard time making friends so I don't really have any.... I like doing group activities with my friends, but I don't have any. I don't really like making new friends unless I know they are safe. I have no way of knowin this, so I often don't say anything to people... Do you see? This is my issue...

At work, my back is always to the people in the waiting room. This makes me extremely uncomfortable and paranoid. I don't get a lot of work done because I can't turn around.

I can extremely relate to how you feel. I don't have many freinds either. I feellike I can not trust anyone. People tend to scare and have a hard time being public dealing with the. I often find myself being paranoid in public to feeling as if all eyes are on me.

[jaypop30]

Originally Posted by TheHighPriestess

I don't usually like being around people unless I know them really well and feel comfortable with them. There aren't many of those. I don't mind big groups or crowds because the focus is not geared towards me and I can just sit back and watch. One-on-one though with someone I don't know well at all is rough. Too much focus on me, anxiety, insecurity. Poor self-esteem, I guess. When I'm hypo, much of the anxiety is gone and I feel much more at ease talking with anyone. Depressed, I don't want to show my face to anyone.
Today I have a job interview and this is the worst case scenario for me. My anxiety is haywire right now. Stomach in knots. Shaking with anxiety. Too much focus on me, needing to impress, pressure to "fake it 'til I make it", so-to-speak. God, help me!

The best of luck on your job interview. Hang in there I am sure you will do just fine.