• Replies 13 replies
  • Subscribers 89 subscribers
  • Views 1883 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Rudeness

HollyTheWally

I just come back from a walk and I'm feeling a bit down. As it's a nice day I decided a nice walk through the country would be nice, which it was until I saw this woman. Seeing her was fine but I felt myself getting anxious as she came over to me and I had a feeling she would talk to me which I'm not very good at. She did talk to me and asked where this village was which I knew and she asked for directions.

I'm not sure how you guys respond when this happens but my whole body tenses up, my throat gets tight, my stomach knots and I can't say a thing. I try to, I want to but my brain freezes and nothing happens. This woman looked at me sharply and then she sighed and told me I was rude and she walked off shaking her head at me and saying about my rudeness.

If only she knew the massive battle I was having with myself at the time and how much I really did want to answer her question.

Once again autism and anxiety won and made me look like a horrible person.

Feeling very down and disappointed now.

Parents

  • I'm sorry you are feeling down. I remember many years ago not being able to say anything to anyone I didn't know. I read a book that suggested practicing saying one word to a shop-keeper and working up from that. I made myself say hello and moving on to saying that it was a nice day. It was awkward and embarrassing but little by little I did manage to do it. Years later and I can chat quite happily to anyone. The pandemic meant that I lost confidence after a few years of avoiding people and I have had to work hard to bring it back. Perhaps what you are experiencing is not the same as what I had and maybe someone else can give you some ideas. However, don't worry about being criticised, it sounds like the woman was even more rude making comments about you.

Reply

  • I'm sorry you are feeling down. I remember many years ago not being able to say anything to anyone I didn't know. I read a book that suggested practicing saying one word to a shop-keeper and working up from that. I made myself say hello and moving on to saying that it was a nice day. It was awkward and embarrassing but little by little I did manage to do it. Years later and I can chat quite happily to anyone. The pandemic meant that I lost confidence after a few years of avoiding people and I have had to work hard to bring it back. Perhaps what you are experiencing is not the same as what I had and maybe someone else can give you some ideas. However, don't worry about being criticised, it sounds like the woman was even more rude making comments about you.

Children
No Data