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How do you get over the feeling that people are laughing at you?

241 Answers
Last Updated: 06/14/2022 at 1:34am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Polly Letsch, LCSW

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

I provide non-judgmental, person-centered, objective therapeutic treatment for individuals of all ages to improve social, emotional, mental and other areas of functioning.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
April 29th, 2015 3:12am
Learn to be more self-confident people get this feeling most of the time because they look down on themselves. As long as you have a few close people that you know love and care for you it shouldn't be difficult to learn how to appreciate yourself for who you are.
Anonymous
January 9th, 2016 10:28pm
You ignore them and you think to yourself do they not have anything better to be doing with their lives,they'res nothing to laugh about you!
kindMirage55
May 31st, 2018 8:49pm
it is mostly a trick from your mind, it is just you thinking that, if you would look around you would see that no one is actually laughing at you, if someone is laughing they could be laughing with you, so dont mix these up, try to sit them down and talk to them.
Anonymous
June 12th, 2016 8:58pm
You shouldn't care about what people think about you. You are you. You can change your appearance, but not the way you are. Be truth to yourself, do the things you want to do, no matter if others tell you that you can't. Don't let them put you down. Prove them you are way better than them, prove them you don't care about their comments!!
Anonymous
December 11th, 2014 12:24pm
one of the things i do is imagine all the people around me are doing silly things, which makes me laugh too. Or for example, i was in an exam last week, i had to be taken out for a drink of water and when i went in i was really shy but all i did was focus on where i was seated and didnt take my eyes off of it, that got me to where i needed to be which was awesome.
Anonymous
February 11th, 2016 4:34pm
realize the paranoia is true, that even ur so called family will pat u on the back while betraying you. become a cold empty shell with walls on all sides, ur circle of trust. and let no one in.
Treforce
January 28th, 2016 10:06pm
Laugh with them, embrase what they are laughing about and dont let it get you down. it wont stop the laughing, but it can be one hell of a conversation starter if you use it with a smile.
NeverendingSun
December 13th, 2015 11:30pm
I laugh with them. Besides the only opinion you should care about is what you think about yourself. Don't listen to those outsiders, you probably don't even know them.
cristiana33
December 16th, 2015 2:25pm
Usually people laugh when they have no idea who you are or when they don't get what you are trying to say. It's a big difference between laughing with you about something you both find funny and laughing because they just judge you. Learn to make the difference and try to realize that those who laugh at you are not worth your time and energy. It's hard to walk away without feeling their negativity but you need to take into account self-care. Let them have their fun, they don't know you. You are awesome!
Briwes911
May 12th, 2018 4:37am
The best way that ive have learned to get over the feeling that people are laughing at me is to think that things in life are funny.. tv is funny you tube is funny and just because some one is laughing they are more then likely enjoying there day and not making fun of anyone person
heavenslightning
June 9th, 2018 11:31pm
One of the biggest things I notice (especially walking past a large group of people) I always hear comments or sounds which I expect to be aimed towards me. In most cases, they actually arent paying attention to you at all. What I usually do is look back and if they are looking at me, laugh with them. Usually this throws people off guard and totally destroys the joke of them trying to pester you. Other than that theres nothing then a bit of music couldn't do!
cuddlyDay48
November 18th, 2017 10:39pm
Never take them seriously..and be certain that they are trying to underestimate you because deep inside they know they are bad and trying to make them selves better by doing this..Ignore them..never let them make you feel down because the careless you seem the worse they will feel.
Relaxedflower93
March 5th, 2017 4:00pm
You lift up your head and walk past them. do not pay attention to them. Tell yourself everyday that you are beautiful, you are unique. Build up your confidence and no one will be able to make you feel that you are being laughed at.
Anonymous
March 2nd, 2017 5:06am
I think it all comes down to self confidence and how you see yourself. If you're confident in yourself and ignore individuals on how they see you, everything would be back to normal. Self love is important. Give yourself the love that you need and I think it won't matter to you on how people see you. This isn't alot , but if it helps in the smallest way possible, that's good for me :)
Anonymous
June 23rd, 2018 10:00am
Remember that the only reason you feel bad about it is because you care what they think. It only makes sense to care what people think because we were born into a society that places a premium on peer validation but really, the only person you ever have to report to is yourself. The sooner you stop giving a damn what they think of you, the sooner you'll feel less unsettled when they laugh.
charmingDaisy65
October 15th, 2016 8:45am
I know it's easy to say, but when you decide to care only what you and your closest think of you you will stop worrying what others are thinking are doing inn regards to you
interestingFish11
July 2nd, 2017 6:04pm
I understand how frustrating it can be to feel this way. When I feel like this, I try to remind myself that they are probably not laughing at me. And, even if they are, remember that their opinion does not matter! Some people will laugh at you or criticize you for anything because they themselves are insecure and they want to pass that insecurity on to you. Whatever you do, do not get angry with them. This will worsen the problem. They will then proceed to do it, just to get a rise out of you. This is a tough issue to get through and I hope that you have good luck in handling it.
fantasticLove52
June 24th, 2017 5:30am
You should totally ignore them, and you keep your head high and chin up. Don't let people get to you.
Anonymous
March 31st, 2018 1:42am
They can laugh all they want. In the end, you're who you are, you're not who people think you are. Don't let them bring you down because they won't be successful in life but you will.
TKPool
June 20th, 2018 9:52pm
Hey there, that's a really good question! Mostly because it's something quite a few people struggle with, including myself. Often in public when we feel anxious the sound of laughter not coming from yourself can be the absolute worst sound there is, and with it brings the questions. "Are they laughing at me?" "What's so funny?" "Do I look funny?"...etc. However, 9 times out of 10 this is not the case! More often than not, it's just all in your head and it's the thoughts that get you. We've all got a little voice in our head that doesn't always help us out. That negative voice needs to be quieted down, and one way we can do that is through positive actions/thoughts. Think to yourself, "oh, they're just laughing about something funny that happened to them over the weekend" or "It's not about me, I'm not even in their social circle at the moment. It's got nothing to do with me." Never forget the power of self compliments either! Tell yourself that there is nothing to be laughed at about yourself, you are a strong, independent and beautiful being. Smile and keep your head up high, you've got this! Let the positives over-run the negatives in your life. Peaceful wishes xx
straightasaflexibleruler
February 24th, 2018 12:33am
I try not to put too much importance on the opinion's of others. It doesn't matter if they are laughing at you or if they're not, don't care about it. It's them Not you. They have the problem.
Andrew77889
June 30th, 2018 6:50am
I feel you don't get over the feeling, it's innate. Nobody likes being laughed at. But what we can do is choose to see value from ourselves and not the value others claim. So immunity no, capability to manage, that I believe to be true if you find value in yourself.
Seen07
June 6th, 2018 7:18pm
It can be hard to get over the feeling that people are laughing at you. Something that I would do in those situations would be: 1) shake it off. Literally shake my body out of that feeling, and that helps me feel better. 2) talk to few of those people in a casual way and ask them to fill you in on the joke as you feel you could use a laugh. Most likely it would turn out that they were not laughing at you. (Hope it helps)
Youareberrybeautiful
October 9th, 2016 5:07am
I tilt my head up smile and walk by to my own beat not a care in the world. Listening to music helps me block out the world around me as well, instrumental is the best!
KHA123
August 19th, 2017 8:56pm
You have to be confident in yourself. It is none of your business what others is thinking of you. Always be BOLD and yourself. Remember positive things about yourself which they don't know and keep moving.
ElegantUnicorn01
September 10th, 2017 2:41pm
It's called the spotlight effect - we think that people are always talking about us, or always looking at us. The reality is that they're probably not even thinking about you in that moment. Imagine how long it would take to laugh at every person around you - it isn't realistic!!
SchrodingersCat00
September 17th, 2017 4:00pm
I have struggled with the notion that people are either internally or communally laughing at me on and off throughout my life. Fretting about it drives me up the wall. When I sense that people may be laughing, I try to remember how vast the universe is, and find their laughter gets lost in my appreciation of the world for what it is, as well as appreciation for myself and even for them. We all fit here, laughter or no, we are all amazing, and laughter is only one aspect of all this.
Anonymous
July 15th, 2017 6:46pm
Realize what they think, say or do should not matter to you. Let them do what they want to do. You continue to live and be successful.
Anonymous
October 14th, 2016 9:48pm
Work on your confidence. Dont try to convince yourself that they arent, rather say to yourself " Okay everyone is laughing but I dont care. "
GivingstonTreegull
August 16th, 2017 3:28am
Try not to take things so seriously. Whether people are actually laughing at you or you just think they are laughing at you.. Try to remember that that doesn't mean it's bad! Laughing at you could be a good thing. If you are certain that it is not a positive laughter and it is making you uncomfortable feel free to walk away from the situation. You don't have to put yourself in a circumstance that makes you uncomfortable with people who don't care about your feelings. BUT other than that? Just lighten up. Maybe you could laugh along with them!