i don't know what this falls under.

[gookmique]

first of all...

scenario: say in sitting with my grandpa, and we're eating dinner while watching TV.

now, i take a sip of my drink, but in the corner of my eye i see my grandpa lift the drink at the same time i do, take a sip at the same time i do, and put the drink back on the dinner table at the same time i do. or, vice versa, i do it at the same time he does. i don't know if it's me, but i find this rather disturbing. well, not so much disturbing, but it makes me uneasy. it almost makes me want to leave the room.

scenario: say im sitting with my grandma, and we're smoking a cigarette together.

when ever i take a puff and she takes a puff at the same time as me, it aswell makes me uneasy. or, if i take a puff at the same time as her.

as before, this makes me uneasy aswell. i really don't know what it is. i highly doubt it's any "mental illness", but, it's definatly somthing i need to address.

another thing that worries me. when ever im alone, i feel like i can be myself. i don't have to worry about people judging me for the things i do, or staring at me for prolonged periods of time. but, whenever im out in public. i get really tense, it's like my gut gets really knotted up, and i feel like people are staring at me, and judging me constantly. i feel as if i can't be myself.

my father once told me there were two people in the world, intreverts and extreverts. intreverts are people that like to be by themselves and do things solo. extreverts are the social type of people, they can't stand being by themselves and they feel "free", so to speak, with lots of people around.

i guess i'm an intrevert? who knows.. i like to be by myself, but on the other hand, i don't want to be a loner my whole life. i have a girlfriend, and we get along swell, i guess that's all a guy really needs in the world. fuck other people! lol! :yeah:

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

As far as the scenarios you described go, I don't think you have a mental illness. However, it is something that bothers you so it shouldn't be completely ignored. I think a good first step might be to think about why it bothers you when you and another person do something at the same time. Is it because you feel like they're watching you, and doing it on purpose? Or do you wonder if they suspect you're copying them on purpose? Do you think they might be controlling your mind and that's why these situations are occurring (don't laugh, that's a logical explanation to some people)? If so, I would suggest seeing a therapist. Not because you're "crazy" or anything, but because they could help you figure out why you assume those things when they're not likely the case. On the other hand, do you simply have trouble getting over how odd the coincidence is? Maybe you get thinking about other coincidences when this happens, and you kind of over analyze things and that's what makes you uncomfortable? If that's more like what happens with you, then I think you should try controlling it. That means, when you and your grandpa take sips of your drinks at the same time and you start to think, "Oh, that's weird," stop the thought there. Force your mind to think about something else. Or is there another reason that I haven't touched on?

As for your issues with being out in public, that sounds to me like anxiety. A lot of people suffer from anxiety, especially in public situations. From what you said, it sounds like you're still able to leave the house easily enough, you're just more comfortable on your own? If the anxiety isn't getting in the way of things you'd otherwise like to do, then I suggest not changing anything. Remind yourself that your opinion of you is all that matters--who cares how others judge you? But if you find that sometimes (or even most of the time), you'd rather stay inside than go out (like, you'd rather have your girlfriend over and order a pizza than go out to your favorite restaurant), I'd think about therapy. I used to have issues with anxiety myself. It got so bad that, even at the age of 13, I couldn't order my own food at restaurants, I couldn't answer the phone even when call ID told me exactly who was on the other end, and I had trouble going to my friends' houses and knocking on the door without someone else walking up with me. Once I got into therapy though, things got better. Three years later I'm able to do so many things that I never dreamed I could (my anxiety had once caused me to always try to blend in, but in freshman year my hair went through 6 completely unnatural color changes), and only a few things bother me enough that I will avoid doing them. So if this tension in public is really getting to you, don't hesitate to look for help.

Also, introverted doesn't have to mean you're a hermit. It just means that you might tend to prefer your own company to that of other people, which isn't a bad thing in itself. Just watch out for any times when you're staying away from things you like in order to do nothing.

:)

[gookmique]

a job well done. as you said, im able to go outside and do things easily. infact, it's almost as if i enjoy going outside and doing things rather than being inside. but then again, i enjoy being inside doing my own thing rather than socializing. kindof an oxy-moron, but, i think you get the drift. don't get me wrong, i'm no hermit. you know, i would like to think of myself as the kindof "mediocre popular" dude. when ever i go for my daily jog around the block, people wave and say hi. when ever i go out to eat people come up to me and start chatting. people call me, not so often, but enough. people come over to the house to chill, smoke a bowl and play games. but, the fact is, i don't WANT to hang out with them. i don't WANT to chit chat with people. i'm not some anti-social type of guy, but i mean shit!! people can be so annoying and ignorant at times. especially the kids that live around me. i'd rather be at home, doing the things i enjoy doing. i guess im a hum-bug. would you say so? what do you think i am? lol..

i doubt i suffer from anxiety. im actually an outgoing person. i do crazy-shit-on-the-spot type of stuff. my friends put me up to the task, and i'll do it. it's just, when i'm face to face with someone, and we're talking eye to eye(a girl for example. or, an authorative figure), my gut starts to knot. im actually a really relaxed type of guy. i guess i just suffer from a very low form of anxiety.

about the scenarios. i don't know what it is. it's really weird, but i can live with it. i doubt it would manifest itself into anything more than feelings of an "akward" situation.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Well then there you go, no worries. :)

Yeah, I'm like that too. There are some people I like to hang with, but a lot of other people I'd rather leave me alone. xP The internet is nice, I can talk to people without a lot of the stress.

[Tyleisme]

It's a neurological trigger, you see someone do something, such as take a drink or smoke a cigarette, you automatically do the same thing, It isn't a mental illness, and it isn't anything wrong, a lot of people actually do this, and don't even realize it. It's pretty much, monkey see, monkey do. As for your feelings of being around people, anxiety can be a bitch sometimes. When you're by yourself, you don't have to worry about anything. No one is around to judge you, in people, i think some people do worry about being judged, I do. That's why we use manners in public, among other things. It's just something you're going to have to learn to not worry so much about. I'm not really sure there isn't too much you can do for that. Just have to learn to not worry so much about what others think, and that not everyone is judging you.

[Techno Monster]

Those people are your family don`t worry me and my bro do that stuff to. (we are 13 months apart)