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[Firework]

Earlier today, I was just casually walking over to a table for my lunch at my tech earlier today. All of a sudden, someone who I'd know casually to speak to, just blurted out, 'You walk...funny'. Now, from someone who suffers from both depression and social anxiety, I didn't know what to make of this. I just laughed it off, but inside I felt sort've hurt. The smallest bit of criticism I ever get and I immediately obsess over it.

When I was sitting down, I asked another person who I'd speak to sometimes. I just came out of a quiet state and asked him something like 'here...do you think I walk funny?'. He replied, 'Well...I sort've didn't want to say anything to you, but you do...sort've like a penguin or something haha.'

'What do you mean?' I said, using a fake laugh. 'Well, you sort've rely on your shoulders more than your legs to drag you along, no offence, but it's kinda weird'. I said nothing. I was always made fun of in high school for walking 'weird'. People say that I just walk to the side a little. My older brother sort've walks the same way as me, heck I could spot him from a mile off because of his walk! People would always talk behind my back about my walk. I even overheard someone accusing me of showing off in front of everyone purposefully by strutting! How wrong that person is, he doesn't know what it's like to go through Social Anxiety. I'd never 'show off' in front of everyone. I've been told I sort've 'walk to the side a little'...my mother even calls it a 'unique walk', though she uses it more for my brother.

I asked my brother earlier about this, and he said he's received the same treatment from people. He sort've just gets on with it, and people seem to love his walk now lol! But I hate it when people laugh at me for how I walk. I feel hurt, pathetic, and just adds another reason to hate myself. I come close to tears while typing this out, I despise it when people laugh at me. It makes me feel like a joke. Any chance anyone else has this problem? Thnx.

Edited by Firework, 20 March 2012 - 02:56 PM.

[andrewfootos]

YES I have this problem. At my job, I gained the nickname "hoppy" because I have a slight hop when I walk. I was even given carrots once by a co-worker because they said they remind me of a rabbit. They do it in an endearing way, but it definitely makes me self-conscious about everything, almost like I get judged by everybody before I even open my mouth.

[LibraryLady]

Yes, I walk funny too. It's because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis. The bones in my feet are deteriorating and are grinding against one another. It's worse in my left side, so when I walk, I sort of list to one side like a ship that's off course. However, I don't care because I'm still up on my two feet, and I don't give a good god d***ed what other people think! No one would ever say anything too me because I'm an older lady, besides which making fun of the way people walk is really rude. And, I would tell anyone that if they dared to say anything to me about it!

Man, that just really angers me. These people who make fun of you just don't have enough to do in life. Maybe they should have to be in a wheelchair or drag themselfs around with a walker or a cane. Then they wouldn't be so ready to make fun of others. All I can say is they are building up a lot of bad karma for themselves, and they are not worth the dirt on your shoes! Just walk on Firework and Andrewfootos and don't even give the jerks a second thought!

[andrewfootos]

Just walk on Firework and Andrewfootos and don't even give the jerks a second thought!

haha thanks. It just gets annoying because people say nobody judges and that your issues with self-esteem are all in your head, but then it becomes obvious people actually do notice the things you get self-conscious about and it just gets crazy.

[Firework]

Thanks. Just like andrewfootos said, issues like these all seem to be in your head, then it becomes plain obvious that people start noticing the things you seem to get self-conscious about. My brother even told to ignore them, 'it's probably all in your head anyway'...even though I've clearly heard them, and people in my old high school wouldn't have made matters worse for either. I think the people who said it to my face today just clarified that it all isn't 'in my head'.

[andrewfootos]

That's definitely my most major issue. Some of my biggest confidence issues were things friends told me I should see a therapist about, but clearly they're things physically about me that I need to fix/or have fixed, and not mental things. Just like my teeth. I was also called a bunny for a long time because I had a really bad overbite, and it wasn't until I got braces (and took 3 years to get them off) that that ship finally sailed. I'm still self-conscious about it, but it's definitely not as major because I know the problem isn't major.

[LibraryLady]

I'm sorry that people around you are so rude! Honestly, did their parents not teach them good manners!? I'm being a little silly now, but I would never even think of saying something so rude to someone.

Try to let their words roll off you, like water off a duck's back. You know you are a good person inside and if they are so shallow as to say something to you about your walk, then you don't need to be around them!

[Acrowley]

I'm not sure whether or not I actually have this problem, but I feel very self-concious while simply walking down a hallway in school. I feel like everyone is watching, waiting for me to **** up. So, I conventrate really hard on looking "inconspicuous", which of course leads to me tripping and possibly making myself look weird.

[andrewfootos]

Not to make a joke out of any of this, but it's hilarious reading other people's posts and getting the thought in your head like "oh, I've been there! I've done that too! Yeah, that happens to me!" Then you realize you aren't alone at all.

[Acrowley]

Not to make a joke out of any of this, but it's hilarious reading other people's posts and getting the thought in your head like "oh, I've been there! I've done that too! Yeah, that happens to me!" Then you realize you aren't alone at all.

Coming on here is so uplifting. Why can't people like ye live in my area??? :)

[andrewfootos]

Haha I'm part Irish, but I don't see myself living in Ireland. All kidding aside, it would be great having a support group like this in your vicinity, like people you can hang out with on a day-to-day basis that know exactly what you're going through.