There’s nothing to be ashamed about. Not everyone has the same level of anxiety, and some people are just more prone to it than others. But when you’re feeling anxious in a social situation, or struggling with panic attacks, you might make one of these ANXIETY like fate meeting someone quotes mistakes that makes you look dumber than you should be in front of your peers.
8 mistakes about anxiety that can make you look dumb are:
1. You assume they’re having fun
You might be nervous, but it’s because you’re thinking, not because you don’t know how to have fun. When you assume that others are having a good time, it’s almost as though you’re saying “they’re not worried enough to be having fun”. But the truth is that no one cares what you think they are thinking or feeling. The only people who care are their friends and family, so stop worrying about them. They know they’re having a great time.
2. You’re rude
If you can’t figure out how to have a conversation with someone, you might be too nervous. Do your friends give you any grief when you don’t know what to say, or are you rude by not offering your opinion? The truth is that everyone has opinions, but it’s okay if they aren’t your favorite. That’s why we have friends and family, isn’t it? And there’s nothing that says everyone should like the same things.
3. You’re passive aggressive
There are two main types of ANXIETY mistakes: passive aggressive and aggressive aggressive. Both types can make you look dumb, but passive aggressive is less obvious. When your anxiety level is high, it’s hard to admit that you feel uncomfortable and need some space. Instead of being upfront, you might send mixed signals. People will wonder what they did wrong if you do that, or they might say they don’t understand what’s wrong with you.
4. You look dumb in your body language
There are ways to show how comfortable or uncomfortable you are with a situation without saying anything at all. Your body language speaks volumes about how happy or panicky you are when meeting new people, and it even says something about where your mind is in general. Do you have a stiff posture? Hands in pockets or in your hair? Are you making sweaty palms and fidgeting? None of that is attractive to others and some of it can get pretty distracting.
5. You say dumb things
Some things that come out of our mouths when we’re nervous are stupid, such as random noises, squeaky voices, muffled laughter, or just going silent and staring at others. If you aren’t sure how you sound when nervous, ask someone who knows you well how they think you sound when your anxiety level rises. If they agree that the way your body acts out is dumb, then that’s something to work on changing.
6. You’re confused by social cues
When you don’t read social cues, you can make ANXIETY mistakes that make you look dumb. How do you react to eye contact? If you don’t know what someone is thinking, or why they are laughing at something, or even if they are upset, it’s possible to lose track of the conversation or even what’s going on around you.
7. You think everyone hates you
From your perspective, you might think everyone is talking about you, but in reality, they probably aren’t. People get distracted and busy with their own lives. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to believe that no one is interested in what you have to say. If someone says “you’re weird”, it doesn’t mean they really hate you. It means that they were probably nervous or unsure about how to react themselves. And the truth is that some people may stare at you for a bit because that’s how their brains work. They may not be making fun of you at all.
8. You’re a perfectionist
You might be scared of making mistakes because you always have to be right. But the truth is that no one has to be perfect, and even if you are, it’s okay! You might try to cover up your anxiety by saying that you aren’t good with crowds or that you want everything to go perfectly. It’s possible (but not likely) that someone will believe that from time to time, but it’s better for everyone in the long run if you just come out and say what’s really on your mind from the start.
Conclusion:
Being anxious is a good thing. It means you care about yourself and your own health. That’s why you should approach new people, parties, and social situations with enthusiasm and confidence instead of fear or ignorance. Be willing to learn from others’ mistakes if you really want to live well in the real world for long, but know that no one is thinking about you the way you think they are.
There’s nothing to be ashamed about. Not everyone has the same level of anxiety, and some people are just more prone to it than others.
