Social Anxiety with Family
Does anyone else have social anxiety surrounded around family as well? Like your social anxiety is not just going out in public around groups, but also just have anxiety being surrounded by family members in your own home? It’s not with my immediate family like my husband, but like when family visits you just want to hide in the closet and you don’t want to have in-depth talks with them? I’m really, really struggling with that now.
yes, it’s so weird. i get all shaky and stuff when i’m even with family too. the only people in my family i don’t get anxious around is my mom, step dad, and one of my brothers. oh and holidays when everyone is watching you open a gift is a nightmare too
Yes, I hate that as well. I hate to be the center of attention. I feel like my anxiety is worse with family than strangers and I do not know why.
@akay06 To me, personally, I have much more anxiety around family than I do strangers, because I feel vulnerable to criticism and judgement that I cannot escape. Strangers don't know you as well, so any perceived slights can be brushed off. But, with family, you have to interact with them again (if you can't help it -_-).
Those are just my own thoughts - I apologize if they felt like they reached over your own. I mean no invalidation. I am just...oddly....glad? that others may encounter similar feelings.
Sending solidarity.
I definitely get this as well. I have really bad anxiety when it comes to family. And when it comes to my partners family and my family being in the same room I would rather just crawl under a table until they all leave . And its not they don't get along. I think a lot of people struggle with this. Also people coming into your space is always hard. Your home is where you go to relax and get away and when people come into that it can be really hard because your safe place has been invaded. You are not alone at all in this!
I agree! I definitely think it’s more common than I know. I don’t really get it when people like friends entering my space though. I love having a couple of friends over for drinks and food (much better than meeting in public or their house for me) with strangers and family though, I just don’t want to be near them. I have to take it in small doses. Same with my in-laws. They all just spike my anxiety through the roof. So many times I’ll just have a panic attack and have to run to the bathroom just because we are all in the same room.
@akay06 same here! I completely get you. I just hide in my room mostly anyway Im still 17 so my parents do the talking but sometimes they make me talk its hard and in shy and stuff lol
It’s a struggle for sure!
Yes I don't know it's just do weird . If I meet them after a long I get super nervous and awkward I feel they are stranger to me for a span of time it's so bad ...
That’s true! It’s harder when it’s been a long time. I guess I’m just not a family person anymore. I didn’t used to be this way, but I just don’t enjoy spending anytime with distant family members. It feels very weird.
What's worse is I even feel it with my parents and siblings
That’s difficult. My grandparents raised me and I get it a bit with them too, but not that bad. I’m sorry you’re going through that.