greeting people (fear of hugs, handshakes?)?
For the last 5 years I have grown an increasingly troublesome fear for the physical interactions of greeting and leaving people. This has become so bad that sometimes I choose not to go out to avoid physical interaction. One recent example is a girl (only friends, she has a boyfriend) I play music with, we have only hung out 5 times but the last 4 times I have given her a hug when we greet and when we depart. I then dwell on the appropriateness of this hug, and honestly fear seeing her again because of this. I have this same problem with friends and co-workers (men and women alike). It is not that I fear the social settings, I love hanging out and talking with people, and once the physical interaction is over I'm fine (although right before we depart I start building anxiety). I was wondering if anyone else has this problem, could anyone offer me advice for this, and is this fear normal or should I seek help? Thanks
Answers:
dont worry shaun11, we all get some type of fear some time or other.
it helped me to take st johns wort, i took a 1000mg tablet 3 times a day for 6 weeks.
it is a wonderful feeling to have these fears just float away.
its all good, keep positive always!
go give her hug no matter if she`s tied up or not, maybe your winning her heart slowly
i shake hands with all my make friends, and close mates in the peer group i am in either hug or bump chests. As for women I know or meet, if the situation determines a hand shake then shake hands, if not there is nothing wrong with a small peck on the cheek as a sign of friendship. Stop worrying about it and get on with the more important things in life, like whens the worlds water gonna run out?
if the other person is comfortable with what you are doing then it is just fine.
I believe you must not be an American. Have you ever heard the saying "when you are in Rome, do as the Roman do". It is only in your mind of not customery to this traditions. Just accept this is what they do. Hey, it is not that bad unlike sex abuse.
I do because I fear GERMS I don't like people touching me and I don't like touching anything out side of my house. I carry hand cleaner with me. I tell people who want to shake my hand that I don't do that and tell them why they understand but I'm sure they think I'm nuts .
Try to manage it your own. If you can't
You can seek professional advice from a Psychologist.
I don't know how old are you. It may be the beginning of Social Anxiety Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. If your problem grows bigger you must get diagnosed from a Psychiatrist (only).
Read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anxiety_disorder
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