When you think it’s only you

[inthewoods4]

I saw my therapist yesterday and we were talking about how I hate going to school run if I’ve been crying because I don’t want anyone to see me, and how I felt like everyone else is fine and happy. She assured me that’s not the case, but does anyone else feel that way? That everyone else is fine apart from you?

Yes me too
I always think people are looking at me

It's never the case that everyone is fine and happy.

No matter how they look - some people are just better at putting their distress on hold in the playground. Smiling on the outside and seeming together, are no indication of being the same on the inside.

I know you’re right, I just feel like the odd one out. I also find it hard to care about the class whatsapp chat, and then berate myself for not being a good enough mum because I don’t care about a lost sock etc

American author David Foster Wallace said;

“We would worry less about what others think of us if we realised how seldom they do.”

Social anxiety in particular is fuelled by the notion that others are looking at us and making negative judgements. Nonetheless, other people aren’t as interested in judging us as we imagine. Whilst we might think that when we walk into a room (or the school gate) all eyes are on us making silent criticisms, they probably aren’t. People are generally far too concerned with their own lives and hiding their insecurities to bother exposing ours...