I struggle with obsessing way too much what others think of me. Someone may make an off the cuff remark like you're weird.

Then I analyze everything I say and do, and think was that weird or strange. It really hurts my personality, because I spend that much time worrying about what other people think of me and how I am perceived.

I hope to become more comfortable with who I am, but this is incredibly annoying to have other people given so much power over how I view myself.

Or someone says your lazy, and I internalize it and evaluate myself to see whether I am really lazy or not.

Can anyone relate to these type of obsessions where you always analyze your self?

It seems I have so many self-defeating negative thoughts hampering me from really enjoying life and having confidence.

Nick

Hey GoBucks,
Yes, I have these same thoughts. Sometimes I wonder what my true personality is because most of the time I accommodate it to the situation and company I'm around just to seem more pleasing and acceptable. I also replay things that I have said or should have said and think about people's responses to them. I'll rehearse a message before leaving voicemail and I reread letters and emails before sending them just to see if it's pleasing to the receiver. I'll probably reread this response 5 times before posting it to make sure there are no spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. Why? Because I would hate to think that people who read it think I'm uneducated or just plain dumb. This type of self analyzation is unrelenting!

I do and im 13 and i go through this all the time with my friends or my friends friends. And yes it annoys me all the time but yet i thought that, "oh its just the way i am" and I am getting tired of how much i obsess about who thinks of me, or will they like me, or i really want them to like. So i have to put on this "show" to show that i am like them, and im getting pretty tired of it.

There was a movie out a few years ago called "As Good As It Gets" with Jack Nicholson playing this extreme compulsive disordered individual. That was my imagine of an OCD person. After reading your posts today I realize I do the same things you do. I have never thought that this behavior was "weird" just the way I replayed and processed life. I think I will be checking in to this site daily.

Yup this sounds like me. I have to constantly feel that I have to have everyone's approval and if Im criticized then I take it so personally that I don't want to try anymore cuz I'll think I'll fail AGAIN. I analize everything that I say and worry what other people will think of after I say it. Just like I worry on these forums that I'm afraid of the picture people will draw about me. But I relized that we all obscess about the same things and I'm not the only one. And I hope that I can truley change my life.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Angie S.,

HI GO BUCKS. I'm new to this site but i had to write when i read your post. I use to have that so badly and i had to realize that everybody is never going to always like or approve of me all of the time. you have to remind yourself that you are a gifted, talented, special, and wonderful person possesing all of the gifts that GOD has given you to make your own choices and to do well in your life and whatever else you need pray to GOD for it, but try never to leave your happiness in the hands of other people. people will love and approve of you one minute and as soon as you do some thing that's not pleasing to them they'll change their minds. and that's normal. That's why you have to love them but at the same time give yourself credit for being a smart person worthy of happiness. If you have to look in the mirror every morning and say to yourself "I am a good person who makes good decisions" do it. It works. After a while you'll start to believe it. Make up some other ones. I know this is kind of long. wishing you well. Lucinda Basette's book "FROM PANIC TO POWER" helped me a lot.

deedeeoo

This message has been edited. Last edited by: deedee00,

Just remind yourself that it's OCD. Don't elaborate on it in your mind or make a big deal out of it. "It's just my OCD. No big deal." You are entertaining the thoughts as they come in. This is resistance. Resistance keeps them coming back. When you allow these thoughts without attachment to them they come back less and less - until one day you'll notice that you haven't had the thoughts in a very long time. This takes practice so be patient with yourself and your progress.

I'm not saying this is easy but it is simple and you will succeed with persistence of the exercises.

I'll wager that underneathe it all, you don't really give a hoot what others think. Keep practicing and you'll see what I mean.

Thanks for everyones input. I am really going to start affirming myself with the truth. I have such a negative perception of myself, and am extremely hard on myself. I hope to think of my good traits, and qualities to help balance all the negativity that comes from others. Even people who are sarcastic with their comments without knowing it bring me down because I dwell on what they say.

"If the Son Sets you free you are free indeed"

Thanks everyone for the support.

Nick

Hi everyone i have extremely negative thoughts towards my kids which i had now for 5months i try to say its ocd and move on its very disturbing and hurtful and i get extremely angry and mooded cause of this did anyone ever had thoughts about harming there kids r is it just me i get more depressed dwelling on it. Pleae in need of help diane

Hi Diane.
It's ok. Those are a part of the anxiety. Let them come, pay them no attention and they will pass right along.
I have them too. They will stop coming.

Wow, yes, I totally do this. Mine really gets me when I think people are mad at me. Like if my boss doesn't talk to me for a day, I automatically think I did something wrong and I start worrying that he might be upset with me or I might get fired, even though nothing like that has ever happened. I feel like I need people to always like me and be happy with me, if not, I get incredibly anxious and upset.

Yup, I got that obsessive thinking of what others are thinking, and rehearsing or rethinking conversations after the fact. Been listening to tapes 6 and 7, those are extremely helpful to me, hearing it over and over again. Have you gotten that far in the lessons? The folks Lucinda chats with are feeling so much better, I want to get that much better, too. So where in the program are you now?

That church hymn was awsome!!! I worry alot if I'm liked and loved. Worry for nothing because I know I am!!! What do people think of my decisions, actions (not so much about looks any more)in life especially as a Fire Chief. Approval rating does'nt matter cause the membership does'nt vote for me or on me. I guess I have held on to past hurts and pains and drag them on with for nothing.

Thought I was getting over some of this , but just reading about it brought it back. I seem to absorb things I read and judge myself from there. Love all of the positive statements. Thanks