How do you think others perceive you?

I've always felt that people perceive me very differently from the way I perceive myself.

Sometimes when I'm hypo/manic, I can be overbearing. I'm just so sure of myself that "everyone else is wrong". I'm the best; therefore, I'm right. That's why it gets on everyone's nerves and why I've lost a lot of friends this way. However, I'm not normally like this!

For the most part, though, I tend to be fairly quiet and reserved. However, I think people perceive me as "totally unpredictable", which is unfortunate... but I think it's because I've been rapid cycling. I'll go through periods of feeling normal and doing normal things... then I'll get hypo/manic and do something bizarre that they never expected me to do. People don't really trust me anymore

[Icare dixit]

Yes, unpredictable. I surround myself with people that (are) like that or that don't mind it much, as much as possible.

Also not to be taken too seriously. I don't take myself too serious either, but some (more delusional) stuff just is, obviously. Why don't you get that!? What's wrong with you!? What evil game are you playing!?

[gina_re]

That it is a loaded question. It will be like a homework assignment to answer. But long story short, sometimes I care and other times who gives a

Before the psychosis I think others perceived me as being outgoing but someone who struggled with depression. An idealist, intelligent, sometimes too overbearing, opinionated.

Now I think others perceive me as different, shy, standoffish....

Depends on the person, depends on the day. If I'm stable, they will probably see me as a regular girl. Nothing will stand out except maybe my shyness. If they meet me while manic, they will see me as a high energy party animal. Depressed they won't meet me, I'll be in my room most likely. I think unpredictable is the most common way those who know me will see me, but the people who love me focus on the best and it helps me do the same.

I want to be predictable and steady. I want to get and remain stable. I'm tired of being erratic.

When people describe me i usually words like 'kind' and 'smart.' Some people say i am intimidating but that's just because i'm quiet. When they get to know me they change their mind. One schoolmate predicted i would be a critic of some sort. I guess she thought i was overly critical. I try to watch that and make sure to speak up if i have something positive to say. My mom's friend was a hairdresser when i was growing up and she said she disliked cutting my hair so now i make it a point of complimenting and thanking my hairdresser now. An instructor of mine had us do feedback surveys at the end of her course and she said she was scared to see what i would say. I guess i come off as negative and play devil's advocate a lot because i thought that course was excellent and she was a talented instructor. I'm a lot more positive now but it's something i have to keep an eye on.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by apfei

When people describe me i usually words like 'kind' and 'smart.' Some people say i am intimidating but that's just because i'm quiet. When they get to know me they change their mind. One schoolmate predicted i would be a critic of some sort. I guess she thought i was overly critical. I try to watch that and make sure to speak up if i have something positive to say. My mom's friend was a hairdresser when i was growing up and she said she disliked cutting my hair so now i make it a point of complimenting and thanking my hairdresser now. An instructor of mine had us do feedback surveys at the end of her course and she said she was scared to see what i would say. I guess i come off as negative and play devil's advocate a lot because i thought that course was excellent and she was a talented instructor. I'm a lot more positive now but it's something i have to keep an eye on.

I do some of this too. I very rarely give anybody a perfect score on a survey because no one is perfect. I've also been told I that I come off as aloof at times.

[Bobbyj]

Most of the time good things: funny, easy going, nice, smart, talkative, etc... But people that know me also know i can be unpredictable especially with my substance abuse problems. Depending on how my mood is, a simple conversation on a subject can turn into a big argument or an outburst. Usually only with people i tend to be defensive with though. There are people i like a lot that i don't have the same views as, but i don't argue with them because i enjoy and respect them. There are other people i will try to fight with even if they have a similar view on a subject as me. All depends what kind of mood i'm in and if i feel like getting along or feel like being devil's advocate just to disagree with someone. Anyway this all comes out to me being pretty unpredictable in other people's eyes. Which i'm okay with, i like being a mystery. I think 'normal' people are lame. I love my crazies

[Row Jimmy]

Eccentric, rebellious, uncooperative, annoying, obnoxious, chatterbox, a bit of a "nut".

Screw em, I don't care.

[Tucson]

Jumping out of my socks to lethargic and negative. Normalcy from time to time as freindly and outgoing. Most of the time basically a PITA.

Stable: Quiet. Helpful (to a fault -- I get taken advantage of). Hard worker. Smart (and smart azz --though I'd prefer "witty jokester", lol). Individualistic, perhaps eccentric.
Aloof. That seems to be a common perception. Shyness alone seems to cause this perception. But truth is, it's fair because I very seldom can relate to people. (IRL. Here is relatable).

Depressed: Non-talking, slow-moving space case. (Hmmm. Otherwise, not sure, as I'm too far gone inside my head to notice.)

Hypomanic: Who the hell IS this?! She never talks and now won't STFU! Haha. (Pod person?) Won't stop laughing either! Very outgoing. Weird. Probably on something. Energetic. Intense. Impatient with a capital I. Which leads us to: Obnoxious. Rude. Rabid wolverine.

Most common perception: rather weird.
Most common mis-perception: very serious. (Actually, I'm quite goofy )

[gubernova]

I have made my illness worse by trying to be normal. I do weird stuff and really don't care if people think I'm nuts.

There is a saying "what other people think of me is none of my business" I do better in life when I live by this saying. Essentially, people are entitled to think what they want. Doesn't make them right.