[dylan100]

Right I feel a bit weird typing this here but I will try and summerise my problem. Recently within the last few months ( it started towards the end of my gap year) Ive been unable to stop thinking about my body language to the extent that I am parnoid even when doing simple things such as sitting on the sofa. I know this is stupid and until recently I never gave much attention to myself when I spoke to people. Now if I'm talking to someone I'm either thinking about how I'm standing or thinking about how I'm not thinking about how I'm standing which inevitably leads me to thinking about how I'm standing again. It's a stupid loop and I feel its stopping me doing things happily that I would otherwise normally. Plus the more I try and not think about my body language ( where my hands are etc... ) the more I think about it. I think its getting worse and it sounds trival but it really really bothers me, I find myself watching television and thinking I wish I could be that unaware of my own body and then I think about things I will no longer be able to do in the future because of this self awarness and then I get a depressed from it. Its even effecting me now when I'm by myself or when I'm with my family, it occupies aobut 60 percent of my thoughts.

Sorry this sounds crazy and the simple solution would be just to forget about this whole issue. The only problem is I can't. Please if anyone can offer any advice that would be really really Apreciated. Thanks .

[N0help4u]

I went through that when I was between 18 and 20 it might just be a stage where you are overly self conscience and insecure. Redirect, refocus and get some self confidence. If you feel you have some things to change make the changes.

[linnealand]

Actually, it sounds to me like you might be suffering from a mild amount of clinical anxiety. This is a condition that can take shape in all kinds of peculiar ways. Do you think that what you're describing might come from some stress in your life that could be manifesting itself in feeling overly self-conscious?

If so, if I were you, I might consider making an appointment with a therapist. At the very least, you can get your frustrations off your chest. If you are in fact suffering from a form of anxiety, you can feel confident that it responds extremely well to treatment. Some people are able to get out of it with some therapy, while others find that a combination of therapy and short-term medication help most.

You'll be okay!

[dylan100]

Hi this is dylan100. Thanks for your responses they're really apreciated. I am 19 at the moment so I fit that bracket but until all this started happening I was pretty confident, so I don't know if its just a lack of self confidence... it might be. I think if I was to point to a moment when I started to be self aware it was probably when someone made a comment about the way I hung my arm when I stood and I tried for a short while to make an effort not hang it like that. Gosh I hope it isn't clinical anxiety, I was just hoping it would just kindof pass. I haven't really got any pent up stress. I have spoken to my brother about it and he sais it is just paranoia. Sometimes it goes away when I'm really focused on something else, but then I sort of relise that I am OK and then I remember why I wasn't and I get back into the loop. It also goes away when I get drunk ( not that I'm getting drunk to cure the problem). I think I've just got to sit it out and eventually ill find an adequate way of dealing with it. I don't really want to go to therapy or take any medication because I don't believe it is severe enough to warrant it. Thanks again, and if anyone has any other responses or anything more to comment do its comforting.

[N0help4u]

People will make senseless remarks that can cause you to be more self conscience but you need to let them go in one ear and out the other. I bet if you thought about it you could have pointed out something just as trivial that they do. You can't please everybody so you have to please yourself and not worry about what others think. If that was the worse thing they could say about you then you are doing really good.

[linnealand]

Hi again! I'm glad you wrote back. Make no mistake, it's entirely possible that it's just a silly distraction, and please remember that it is impossible to make any kind of real diagnosis on any medical or psychological situation via the internet. The answers here are just from people who care and would like to present suggestions that could resolve your questions.

Your age could most certainly be playing a part in how you're feeling. Most teens go through a time when they're feeling awkward or insecure; now you just have to learn to love your body and yourself, no matter how you hold your arm! Teenagers can also be especially cruel to each other. I agree with nohelp in this. And at least you can say that you are not the stupid one who decided he had to put someone else down to feel better about himself. :)

The reason I suggested you consider the possibility of this being anxiety-related is that you wrote that this has been going on for a few months, which could be considered a somewhat significant amount of time, and if it is actually occupying 60% of your thoughts, it's not a mild amount of obsessing over it. Therapy is recommended especially in cases where the person's life is being affected in a significant way by their situation. I would say that if this problem is really at the level you described, and if it keeps going like that or getting worse, you would have nothing to lose by talking to someone about it. Like I said, you might just feel better by letting it out. If you do decide that it is significant enough, you always have that as an option.

If you don't think it's that severe, remind yourself of that fact! What's happening is going on inside of you, so you are the one in control of it, not the outside world. Maybe you could write out your feelings, exercise, socialize - anything that will let your negative thoughts leave through a positive outlet, help to give you confidence and make you feel better.

[0rphan]

Hi you... Dylan,. I know exactly where your coming from... this sounds like repeated behaviour that you are unable to control.

I think you are suffering from a mild form of,OCD... obsessive compulsive disorder.

You can go to the... u.k official webb site or... stuckinadoorway webb site. Which will tell you all you need to know on this condition and how to handle it.

Alternatively visit your doctor, who may refer you for some professional help.

Takecare

[linnealand]

Just a note: OCD is classified as a form of clinical anxiety.

[Choux]

Take up sports and build yourself up... tennis is good, and should work for your introvertedness. ONce you develop your tennis skills, you can really play hard and tough and have lots of fun and exhaust your inner tensions.

Life is to be enjoyed, :)