Men laughing when driving past

[Sweetpie97]

When I’m driving I keep seeing men laughing as they pass me in their cars. It’s making me really paranoid. Sometimes I just look over at the oncoming cars and it’s men mainly on their own laughing. How can I get over this as it’s effecting mt confidence. My driving is fine and it’s not my car that would make someone laugh.

Sounds more like you are suffering paranoia. Those passing could be chatting on the phone, listening to the radio etc.

I agree that you sound paranoid. They could be talking on their phone, or listening to something.

I thought this but I just happen to glance over sometimes and it feels like are looking straight at me and either smirking or laugh

I doubt that is the case. It is your mind making you think that.

Don't look across then. I never look at anyone else driving, far better to keep my eyes on the road ahead,
You're lucky that a car in front hasn't stopped suddenly while your head's turned away.

I could be one of those men. I listen to mostly comedy podcasts in the car, so I'm often laughing my head off.

Watch the road, not other drivers faces.

Nobody is interesting enough for multiple people to stare at whilst driving, let alone stare and laugh...

I wouldn’t be overthinking in this situation. Laughing in the car, they just fuck off into oblivion.
People laugh in my face when I’m doing a regular food shop going around aisles in Asda because of where I live and as some kind of package deal apparently because of how I look. With my DD, without my DD. I think you’d get a shock if you walked a mile in my shoes. I had my nose broken when I was 16 in a random attack. I was egged when heavily pregnant. DD is now 13. No let up on the stares and shouted abuse. Apparently dyed black hair, piercings and tattoos trigger these idiots so badly they have to shout out. And there’s me smiling at anyone I encounter until that happens and I know it’s a lost cause. OP realise when you’re actually being targeted. After 20+ years of it I still kill with kindness when it’s on a lower level and they generally come around and accept me (neighbours, supermarket staff etc).
Recently in a popular nearby park I’ve had a teenage girl who couldn’t have been more than 15 come up to me and my DD. She shouted “suck my dick emo!”
Couldnt say or do a damn thing because if I said anything in response the huge gang of skallies behind her would have been set on me, DD, my sister and my sisters 4 year old DD. It’s absolutely rampant kids attacking kids where I am, literally stabbing both other kids and adults. We don’t go there anymore.
At least these fuckers drive off.

At the risk of sounding obvious, have you checked there isn't an obscenity graffiti'd on the back of the car or something?

If it's a normal car and you're driving normally, it has to be your imagination.

I'm so sorry to hear this 😞 why can't we just live with respect for each other? 😞

I laugh all the time in the car, I have the radio on and laugh at things the presenters say, or when they read out listeners text etc, or if I ring my husband and he says something funny.

Come on OP, its not all about you!

I often get caught grinning or laughing at traffic lights because I talk to my dogs in the car and they are not visible so it looks like I’m a mad person or I’m laughing at a passed one someone in the car next to me.

You are paranoid.

Why would they be laughing at you? I drive hundreds of miles a week in a dented little old noddy car blasting metal or rock and I’ve never seen anyone laugh. It’s rare I even register their faces! I drive on motorways a lot too. 🤔

Unless you've got a pink Fiat 500 with flowers sprayed on i doubt they're laughing at you.

If you look over they will likely look back. Why do you look?

Never look at other drivers. Or it gives them the opportunity to make hand gestures, accusing faces, mouth swear words……… just never look at them…….easy!

OP might be correct that multiple men are laughing at her. It does happen as @StevesLavaChicken has proven. I agree with others to focus on the road and try not to look at others faces as much.

Do people laugh at you when you’re out and about walking or on public transport/shopping etc?

This could be me, I’m always on the phone or listening to something in the car. Will be happy laughing away to myself and glancing at other cars too.

Human brains do this. Once you've spotted something that triggers a stress response your subconscious makes note of the 'danger' and is then on heightened alert, looking out for it everywhere. This can easily turn to paranoia if you're also feeling vulnerable, your brain will start spotting things that trigger it all over the place because it's trying to protect you. Sometimes our natural instincts can go a bit haywire, especially when stressed and vulnerable.

Please be assured that no one is laughing AT you. Either try to keep your eyes on the road, or you could try quickly smiling back at the other driver. This would hopefully tell your brain that the interaction is positive and nothing to worry about.

When did you start noticing this? Was there anything stressful going on in your life at the time?

If it persists, get your windows tinted then they can't see in.

I doubt very much this is the reality of what is happening. It's your mind playing tricks, negative thoughts that are multiplying into a little bit of paranoia. Are you naturally a nervous driver? Has anyone actually criticised your driving in the past? Are you are relatively new driver? May be you need to have a chat with a therapist - if you work often counselling is available via the Employer Assistant Program. You don't want these thoughts to become worse, and stop you from driving.

Is the car covered in dents, bumper falling off, broken window, an inappropriate sticker in the back window, amusing advertising rap around? If none of the above they haven't noticed you at all, just going about their day. If they swear and gesticulate they noticed something...

Unless the traffic is stationary or you are not paying attention to the road it's almost impossible to see any details of other drivers anyway, if that's what you think they are laughing at.

God this is bloody awful, don't let these bastards get you down! Xx

Does your car look something like this?