After meeting people

[Lelophants]

Do you ever have a nice day with people but then come away feeling awful about yourself?

I get some social anxiety so often worry and overthink beforehand. Ends up totally fine. People are chatty, nothing bad happens. But then later on you think about the fact you probably sounded really boring. You realise no one really asked you about yourself. You look at the photos and think you look terrible. I wish one day I could go in looking really gorgeous and be all confident talking about some fantastic new job I have.

I think im always really ‘nice’ and it means no one actually thinks Im very interesting or really cares very much

Maybe not quite as extreme as that, but yes, definitely some version of it. I'll remember something I said or some other moment of perceived awkwardness (usually something no one else is likely to have actually noticed) and basically torture myself with it.

I've learned that the best thing to do is to try to fill my mind with something else instead. Distractions. Entertainment or an activity that requires focus. Fortunately the 'awkwardness flashbacks' don't seem to last long before they fade and are replaced by other thoughts.