[CosmicRose]

I remember just thinking about social norms in class one day in the 5th grade. I literally sat in my chair imagining what it would be like if I just suddenly started dancing or running around the room acting totally bonkers, just out of no where. LOL I guess I was imaging social boundaries and how easy they are to break? I don't know. But now I have this actual fear of losing it in front of other people. It's never happened before and I doubt it ever will, but its just an unrealistic fear I have of suddenly doing something "out of the norm" and being embarrassed about it.
What is this?? This isn't some kind of ocd or tourettes thinking or anything, I only have anxiety issues sometimes but that's it. It's not often either, once in a blue moon, but sometimes I'll have a thought like that and then I get a slight uncomfortable feeling like wow I hope I never actually do that.
Maybe its a feeling of being out of control that I don't like?
I was just wondering if anyone else out there has these thoughts/feelings.
Social expectations just seem so formal and its like we're stuck in this box of how we're all supposed to act. You can't just break out into song at work or something LOL. I can't really explain it, IDK .

[Crazy Hitch]

Don't worry I think your fleeting thoughts are normal so long as they aren't interfering with your day to day functioning.

It's just a reminder to you of what is acceptable - and that's not a bad thing.

Your imagination of running around in the class was your brains way of evaluating outcomes and considering the consequences of your actions. That's a good thing! People can engage in all sorts of risk taking behaviors if they've never taught themselves to consider the consequences of their actions.

Just keep a healthy balance.

Don't let your imagination run that wild that it inhibits you from being you.

i actually do that too. sometimes the notion of completely losing control is both tempting and scary.

[Thunder Bow]

Do not hold yourself in, by worrying about what others are going to think of you. Go a head and express yourself. Just do it creativily.

[Hellion]

It's ok to do something out of the ordinary every once in a while contrary to popular belief. Whether it will be embarrasing or not is likely to depend on various factors...such as self esteem, others reaction to it ect. Don't really think those things you mention would be that terribly out of control...though might not want to run around if you're inside(can be dangerous, so perhaps save it for outside)...As for dancing around i listen to a lot of metal and rock and might end up rocking out a little in public if I have headphones in or there happens to be music I like where I am, can't help it don't think It's that unusual.

Honestly unless you are having urges to do something that could hurt you or others then its probably not any kind of mental illness sign or anything to worry about. But yeah I think also if you're maybe not expressing yourself it creates some pent up energy so can give you the urge to just let it all out, out of nowhere....kind of like if somethings bothering you and you try and suppress it then if something upsets you it might be hard not to let all that out to.

[wolfgaze]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

I remember just thinking about social norms in class one day in the 5th grade. I literally sat in my chair imagining what it would be like if I just suddenly started dancing or running around the room acting totally bonkers, just out of no where. LOL I guess I was imaging social boundaries and how easy they are to break? I don't know. But now I have this actual fear of losing it in front of other people. It's never happened before and I doubt it ever will, but its just an unrealistic fear I have of suddenly doing something "out of the norm" and being embarrassed about it.
What is this?? This isn't some kind of ocd or tourettes thinking or anything, I only have anxiety issues sometimes but that's it. It's not often either, once in a blue moon, but sometimes I'll have a thought like that and then I get a slight uncomfortable feeling like wow I hope I never actually do that.
Maybe its a feeling of being out of control that I don't like?
I was just wondering if anyone else out there has these thoughts/feelings.
Social expectations just seem so formal and its like we're stuck in this box of how we're all supposed to act. You can't just break out into song at work or something LOL. I can't really explain it, IDK .

Now that you mention it - I remember having thoughts like this before. It's been a rare occurrence but I do recall situations where I was in the presence of a large group of people and I would just daydream/wonder what would happen if I stood before them and said something that was regarded as taboo and socially offensive. I would just think about what their reactions might be like - out of curiosity. I should note here that I did not actually harbor offensive thoughts/beliefs as if they were my own, I just wanted to explore in my mind how people might react to such a set of circumstances. In terms of the settings where this happened - I'm thinking of when I was a kid and made to attend church, and more recently, at a company/corporate meeting when I was bored and my mind was wandering.

Maybe chalk this up to a natural curiosity to explore social boundaries and psychological responses/reactions to certain interactions/contexts/circumstances...

The thought of your hypothetical example though would freak me out because I'm a terrible dancer! My singing probably isn't much better either...

[CosmicRose]

Lol this is really funny to me, I wonder how common this actually is. You're right, it does happen when you're bored...imagination can just wander off thinking about possibilities in any given situation. I guess it's not so weird after all. I was pretty unbounded as a child when the thought first happened, but as I've gotten older I do think it can be correlated to not allowing myself full expression of who I am and that could be the tension I feel.

[vital]

Hey CosmicRose,

Your post is making me smile. I love it when people do spontaneous creative stuff that nobody is expecting. It's so refreshing and nice and can wake everybody up. It's Art, really.

- vital