The fear of people, the fear of being judged.

[DeadEyes]

Agoraphobia is one thing.

Anthrophobia is another.

Whether it's the fear of the crowds or the fear of people itself, most of the time, it all comes down to one thing: the fear of being judged.

Just a little backstory from my experience. Ever since I've started being around people, in school mostly, I began to be uncomfortable, anxious and even fear crowds. Later on I had group therapy and instead of learning to create bonds with people, I've started to realise it's what they could think of me that made me shy and the way they would judge me that made me nervous.

The day that I decided I didn't care anymore about what they could think of me: it went all away.

I'm not saying it's the same for everyone, sometimes there is much more irrational reasons or other conditions, but many members here have shared their fear of getting judged in other threads concerning this.

[Miserabilia]

I feel similar.
I always feel like people are looking at me,
every time I hear them laughing I just know they are lauging at me...
I know it's irrational to think, but I can't help it...

[Karkat]

I tend to be a very insecure person. I'm not secure in most of my relationships and the ones I am, I tend to be kind of clingy or nervous about everything. (So and so hasn't texted me in a week, are they ok??? DID THEY GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT??? ARE THEY IN A COMA????? ARE THEY DEAD????????)

It's even worse as far as my boyfriend goes, but he lets me be somewhat clingy to him. I usually let him have his space, I just check in with him sometimes to make sure everything is ok. We have a good relationship, we understand each other's needs, and try to accommodate them the best we can.

But with friends, etc, they have their own lives. It's different from my relationship with my boyfriend. My friends get busy, and tend to shrug me off sometimes, and it makes it really hard to get close to people. I don't blame them really, it just hurts me.

I'm afraid of being judged quite a bit, and when one of my friends is mad at me, it entirely brings me down. If a stranger is mad at me I usually don't care for very long if I do at all, but judgement from friends can bring me down for weeks.

[RavleIncarnate]

I hate it.


I have acute topophobia, and its not fun. I can at least talk to girls, cuz they always think I'm crazy, weird, funny, or nice, but normally, its a combination. But with guys, no chance.
I know that people see me as a nerd, bookworm, insecure, that type of thing. I normally don't care, but now, some guys think I'm gay cuz I like to look good when I go out. Now the rumours just won't stop. They've even escalated into people tellig each other that I have gay porn videos on my phone. I don't even start on that. But I am insecure, I know that very well, I have much more than my fair share of confidence troubles, but it gets bad.

And all that cuz I think I look good in purple and white.