Is it normal that i i have to put on an act?

92% Normal
15 Comments

I don't like being around people majority of the time. I get anxious and annoyed at work because I have to talk to customers/other employees and I have to put on an act that I'm in a cheery mood. It's honestly exhausting. I don't mind helping people but other than that I don't want to be around anyone, especially strangers.

I get anxious because I don't want to be rude to anyone (i.e. ignoring them/not smiling) and I don't want to get in trouble, but it conflicts with how I'm feeling. A few times I've felt so overwhelmed I was thinking about running out the door and never coming back to work.

Voting Results
92% Normal
Based on 36 votes (33 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 15 )
  • Ldizzy1234
    11 years ago

    Me too. :( I feel bad saying it, but I can't help it. Its true. I'm really shy, and I don't like opening up to people as quickly as others do. It takes me a while to open up, and I have to have the right setting for it. I can't have a lot of people around. Its usually gotta be me and that one person I'm opening up to alone. And I don't like feeling scrutinized either. Once I'm close to a person, then I can allow my walls to come down, but it takes a long time in getting to know them, because I have to feel they're trustworthy enough to know me.

    I guess it makes me appear really awkward, and stupid at work. I even thought I heard someone say I was slow. That bothered me, because I'm really just shy, and I feel like I have to fake my personality there, because I have to work with so many people. Everybody there seems to think I'm this cheery, dumb, little girl. :/ But I generally like to keep to myself, and I'm not used to working with so many people.

    Perfect example I'll share with you; is a guy who I dated from my job. He does the pot washing, while I work with the food and people. Well, when we dated, he told me that he always found me to be pretty, but that he almost didn't ask me out because he had the impression I was a total dumbass. When we went out to dinner, he said he couldn't believe how different I seemed. He said he was surprised by how much more focused I was, open, and smarter I seemed. We stopped dating, though. But not because of any of those reasons. I just didn't feel for him as strongly as before, and actually it was kind of always a nagging thought in my mind that he used to believe I was an idiot. If he passed judgement on me that quickly before even really getting to know me outside of work, then... :(.

    Its ok if you're not exactly a people person. Its all about how comfortable you are. If you're not comfortable where you are, you won't be comfortable with those around you either. And sometimes I think I might not be comfortable with others, because I'm not completely comfortable with myself.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    3
    3
      -
    • wasjusthinkin
      11 years ago

      See the thing is that you are allowing yourself to look like a dumb ass. You need to relax. Instead, allow yourself to be yourself. Be a little more open and blunt with people. I know from experience, cause i use to act and think the same way. I didn't like it...So i changed my attitude. Became more confident. You shelter yourself from the world a little to much. Making your self look like a timid, shy, "dumb ass".. You know you're not any of those things, so why have people think you are? That's embarrassing. If you project yourself as a strong, independent, confident woman people like the from work will want to ask you out and try to get to know you on that one on one personal level... Have more fun. Discover who you are. Become one with yourself :) Don't forget to laugh. There is nothing better than having a good laugh at yourself. If someone is looking at you like your crazy to just be sitting there laughing, just flip them off and continue to laugh.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
        -
      • Ldizzy1234
        11 years ago

        I agree. I wish I weren't such a nervous wreck all the time, and yeah, my life is kinda sheltered. But I kinda did it to myself. You're right. The only way for things to get better is if I change. No more of this timid, shy, 'dumb ass' little girl nonsense. :p And it is embarrassing hearing people muttering things about me that I know aren't true. Especially when its people that at one point you actually believed were decent.

        Thanks for your response. I really appreciate that you cared enough to give me one! :)

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • wasjusthinkin
          11 years ago

          No worries :) ... N don't forget..PEOPLE suck. They always have, and they always will. Be exactly who you are. If people don't like it...Just remember that they suck. ::)) and move on through your day with no worries.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • Ldizzy1234
            11 years ago

            Oh yeah, there's no doubt about that! People do suck. Lol. And thanks again! :)

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
  • AssBurgers
    11 years ago

    Me too.

    Are we all losers?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
  • Anime7
    11 years ago

    I feel the exact same way. being around people is exhausting. In fact, this whole entire week I've been feeling like you. I remember that on Monday I woke up in a really bad/unstable mood, I really didn't want to go to school, but I went anyways. Next day was the same, and so on until today. I don't like putting on an act around my friends but I do anyways. It's exhausting and frustrating because I don't want to be happy but I act like I am anyways. I know how you feel and frankly, I think this is common.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
  • Shrunk
    11 years ago

    I'm the same way, being talkative really is exhausting to me, I guess because I'm so nervous about messing up or being rude that I'm more focused on what to say than how best to answer the person. Then afterwards I always have to run it through my head ans analyze all possible ways it was taken, it's really tiresome... so I prefer just to keep quiet as much as possible, but then worry if that's rude too...

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    You can get burnt out from being too giving and too sweet of a person. You need... to be yourself, selfish, and snarky sometimes too so you won't feel burnt out.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • regisphilbin
    8 years ago

    I am a loner that way I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • DollyBoots
    11 years ago

    It's normal(: I mean that's your job to smile n be helpful. I try to make interactions as short as possible so that I dnt talk to strangers so much(:

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • kaki
    11 years ago

    i feel the same way

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • INTENTGUY
    11 years ago

    I feel like that too

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Ldizzy1234
    11 years ago

    Sorry its ^ so long too.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      No I appreciate it. (& everyone else's comments) :] Sometimes I do feel like talking/being around others. Like when I went to work today. Usually I have to prepare myself.

      I ended up trying to avoid a few people later on because they started making fun of this lady at the register and I just walked away. I don't like gossip >.<

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0