Does anybody else get stressed when someone watches you do a “simple” task?

r/

Like, yes I know how to plug in a USB. Yes, I know how to make toast. But if someone’s watching me, I suddenly feel like I’ve never interacted with an object in my life.
My brain forgets steps. I drop stuff. It becomes a full performance.
Is this a social anxiety thing or just… human?

Comments

  1. NotBadSinger514 Avatar

    Yes because SOMEHOW I will fk it up and look like a uncoordinated incompetent fool, every time!

  2. thexrry Avatar

    I get uncomfortable, but not clumsy

  3. CrunchyRubberChips Avatar

    I’m the single most conscious walker there’s ever been

  4. Pyehole Avatar

    I can’t stand it when people are looking over my shoulder when I’m trying to do something, particularly on a computer. OP is not alone.

  5. HairyHorseKnuckles Avatar

    Yep. I needed to create a flyer for my gf and totally forgot how to use Word bc she was hovering over me. As soon as she left I sent her several professional examples that she loved

  6. boddy123 Avatar

    Yes I don’t like being perceived

  7. WeWereAllOnceAnAtom Avatar

    Had a co-worker who I now kick myself for putting up with, who would constantly cackle laugh at me anytime I messed anything up, and would form his hand in an L-shape (L for loss) and then “hand” it to me. Drop something? Cackles. Hands me an “L.” Spill something? Cackles, hands me an “L.” And so on.

    I stupidly played along with his “jokes” for several years, until literally I had a psychotic break, and there were many reasons for it, but I had so much built up resentment from these interactions, I’m sure they contributed to it.

    He was an envious egotistical bully, feigning friendship. And there are so many of those, who prey on people with perhaps more self-aware dispositions like us.

    Stand up to them. I played along with the jokes until I noticed patterns I couldn’t ignore.

    The disrespect went way far beyond what most people would tolerate.

  8. Tellmeg Avatar

    If it’s any consolation, it gets better as you get older. As much as it sucks to get older, what you lose in beauty, you gain in giving zero-fųcks! 👍

    My fav quote to live by is “We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are…” Aines Nin ~

    So in essence, it’s none of your business what others might think of you – and any critical thoughts they might have is PURELY a reflection on who they are (so no worries) don’t own other people’s issues. You just be you and rock your badass self!

  9. thequejos Avatar

    I had to drive a work colleague somewhere. Totally forgot how to smoothly start/stop for no reason at all.

  10. cornerstorenewports Avatar

    practicing public speaking and practicing teaching make this go away. you can start by jumping out of your comfort zone and maybe helping someone young learn something or doing karaoke.

  11. fakenewtons Avatar

    Today someone who works in my building asked me to start a group chat with my coworker and stood there while I typed it out. I sent one of the most poorly crafted, word salad texts imaginable

  12. zZariaa Avatar

    I hate when people I know watch me do my job, makes me so anxious