Self-consciousness
We all have something that we are self-conscious about. More often than not, these are things that we think matter a lot more than they actually do or are a lot less noticeable than they actually are. For example, that zit on your chin likely isn’t as big as you think it is but that might not help you from thinking that it is what everyone is looking at. Being self-conscious about something can make normal, every day interactions unbearable, or even impossible.
For those with anxiety disorders, it might feel as though eyes are on them all the time. They might walk by a group of laughing teenagers hanging outside at the bus stop and assume that their laughter is targeted at them. This can lead to physiological reactions such as feeling nauseous, stuttering, and trembling. Sometimes these symptoms are so severe that not leaving the house seems like the only solution. This can lead to extreme consequences such as getting fired from your job, getting kicked out of school, or losing friendships.
