[spaceid]

So this is a weird quirk about myself and I was wondering if anyone else understands what I mean. The closer I get to someone and the longer I know him/her the less comfortable I feel opening up to him/her. I am thinking that is has something to do with a fear of rejection, but I am only guessing. I feel like I could tell my life story and all of my problems to a complete stranger, but I find it hard to tell my boyfriend about anything that bugs me.

Lately, I have been having a lot of anxiety and I think maybe I should go to a doctor and tell him/her about how I am feeling. However, the thought of going to see my doctor that I have had for half of my life and telling him I get depressed and anxious scares the living daylights out of me. However, I feel as though I could easily go to a new doctor and not have any issue at all telling him/her about my anxiety.

So it is not just my boyfriend I have this problem with, but also my family and close friends. After awhile it happens with my co-workers too if I have been working somewhere long enough. But if a stranger stopped me on the street and asked me if I was depressed or what was bothering me I could tell him/her even the most intimate details.

Does anyone else feel this way?

[eskielover]

For me, it has more to do with what they might use the information in a way against me rather than to know it to help......which is more of a trust issue with me......where someone I don't know on the street doesn't know me or the details of my life to the point where they could use it against me.

Or they tend to think they can figure out in their own mind things that can help & then they want to force their ways on you.....but someone on the street just isn't going to do something like that so it's safer saying something to them because it won't come back to bite you.

That has been basically from some of my experiences.

I to love having friends who I can feel safe enough to share & be very open with......that's the most wonderful & comfortable feeling...but it takes time to continually test the waters to make sure that it's safe to share....& it seems like there is always going to be some friend who thinks they have ALL the answers & will make sure that you know those answers & that you should be following them......boundaries aren't always easy....but learning boundaries & being able to enforce them in my situations has been key being able to share more.

[lilypup]

Go to a new doctor if you need help. Trust your gut about what to reveal to whom.

[believer55]

It sounds like you have a fear of being seen as flawed or imperfect. Remember your SO, doctor, preacher, friend are all imperfect and flawed and figthing their own battles too. They will all want to help and support you. I know its hard but it will get easier the more you practice opening up.

[hvert]

I think a lot of people feel that way, to an extent. I had someone I barely knew and would never see again unburden themselves to me this summer, and I've surprised myself at some of the things I've shared with strangers.

We never have to see strangers again, but we do have to see our friends and family. If it's easier for you to talk to a new doctor about these problems, go for it. Don't drive yourself mad by thinking that you can only get help if you force yourself to do something you don't want to.

[ChipperMonkey]

Yep.

I can tell a complete stranger EVERYTHING because it doesn't matter if they look at me like I'm crazy and walk away. I can't tell those in my life because I fear being rejected.