r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	Cessdon
Comment	I'll ask you this question: what are you thinking when you look at someone on the street? What's the longest you've thought about a person you saw on the street? Can you remember all the faces you saw 9 days ago in town? Do you see the point I'm getting at here? We all look at others. Sometimes we notice them because of their appearance or something they're doing. Sometimes it's just a random person who you happen to see. A moment of eye contact that lasts less than a second. But then you move on. It's forgotten. You cannot remember the people you saw 9 days ago because it doesn't mean anything, it's not important. Please trust me. You are just as unimportant in these people's lives. You're nothing more than a momentary glance that they forget about almost instantly. You are not special. You're just another stranger on the street. This may sound harsh, but it's not intended to be. I suffered terrible social anxiety for a long, long time. I know what it feels like when it seems like everyone is staring at you. I still fight those feelings at times when I'm stressed/anxious or dealing with depression. I really get it. Understanding the above, that I'm not special or the "main character" in these people's lives, that the worry and concerns are only in my head alone. That I'm just as anonymous and meaningless as all the faces I see every day on the subway or walking down Buchanan Street. That the reason I might look at someone is for all sorts of reasons...they have cool trainers, they have a pretty face, or for no reason at all, I was just looking in their direction at the time. I've not explained this very well. But I guess I wanted to let you know that you can overcome these feelings. That it doesn't always need to be this way. I made massive improvements in my social anxiety. It's not went away, but it's so manageable now that unlike before, where I felt like you nearly every time I left the house/was in a crowd, now I rarely feel that way, and know how to cope with it when it comes along. Recognising it is happening is the first step. Wish the best for you. Take care.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/176y6z0/i_get_stared_at_alot_and_i_dont_know_what_im/k4pg3i8/
Created	Fri 13th Oct 2023 2:55pm
Status	normal ()

I'll ask you this question: what are you thinking when you look at someone on the street?

What's the longest you've thought about a person you saw on the street? Can you remember all the faces you saw 9 days ago in town?

Do you see the point I'm getting at here? We all look at others. Sometimes we notice them because of their appearance or something they're doing. Sometimes it's just a random person who you happen to see. A moment of eye contact that lasts less than a second. But then you move on. It's forgotten. You cannot remember the people you saw 9 days ago because it doesn't mean anything, it's not important.

Please trust me. You are just as unimportant in these people's lives. You're nothing more than a momentary glance that they forget about almost instantly.

You are not special. You're just another stranger on the street.

This may sound harsh, but it's not intended to be. I suffered terrible social anxiety for a long, long time. I know what it feels like when it seems like everyone is staring at you. I still fight those feelings at times when I'm stressed/anxious or dealing with depression. I really get it.

Understanding the above, that I'm not special or the "main character" in these people's lives, that the worry and concerns are only in my head alone. That I'm just as anonymous and meaningless as all the faces I see every day on the subway or walking down Buchanan Street. That the reason I might look at someone is for all sorts of reasons...they have cool trainers, they have a pretty face, or for no reason at all, I was just looking in their direction at the time.

I've not explained this very well. But I guess I wanted to let you know that you can overcome these feelings. That it doesn't always need to be this way. I made massive improvements in my social anxiety. It's not went away, but it's so manageable now that unlike before, where I felt like you nearly every time I left the house/was in a crowd, now I rarely feel that way, and know how to cope with it when it comes along. Recognising it is happening is the first step.

Wish the best for you. Take care.