McDonalds Creeps

Okay so I’m not sure under what “category” this belongs to but here we gooo again.

okay so this happend today and like 2 weeks ago

(For extra info I’m a 17 yo biological “Female” but gender is idk)

2 weeks ago I was at McDonald’s becouse I was allowed to by my parents and when I was ordering is older fellow was behind me in line to order (I know normal but let’s continue) once I order this order fellow stepped outta line aswell he just waited there when I was waiting for my food to be “brought” in this time the guys was looking at me and when I looked back at him he quickly turned his head to a diffrent side (there was like chair-table-table-chair-order/waiting station) the guy was in front of me (chair-table-table-chair-guy) and once I got my food and started eating this guy sees it happening looked at me walks over says “have a nice dinner” and then proceeds to leave, my brain went overthinking style like it always does luckily nothing like that happend.

but today when I was at McDonald’s with my friend becouse we had to shoot pictures for our collage route, we went to the McDonald’s where eating and stuff once I was dont I got a free McFlurry becouse of the app and points system, when I got back my friend and to tell me that a creep behind me was looking at me, I immediately felt no longer hungry sorta felt dirty and we left (after cleaning up after ourselves ofcourse)

just makes me feel uncomfortable even the feeling that I had of being watched as we walked back to the place we would continue shooting pictures I genuinely looked back a lot on the way back there, my right ha d even started shaking had to stop that my holding it but then the inner panic I just would never wish this on anyone I feel like crying (still feel like crying)

Specialist answer

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Veena Choudhary

Specialist

Situations when some one stares at a person creepily always makes the other person feel uncomfortable and its normal to feel anxious.

You ned to calm down. i know that intense stare makes a person anxious.

Journal down your thoughts :

Identify all your thoughts when he approached you and said have a nice dinner? what did you feel

How did you feel when he was staring at you?

what made you nervous the most?

Could you have handled the situation in any other way?

When you say over thinking style like it always does? what did you start thinking? do you think whatever you thought was based on factual data or reality or is it just your assumptions.

When you say over thinking it could also be because you feel he is judging you for something? you need to question yourself why do you felt he was staring at you? This will help you to find the reason for your overthinking as wel..

For controlling over thinking start writing in a journal what thoughts come in your mind and see if thoughts are valid or its your assumptions. first write down and later on read all those thoughts back again to understand. this will create self awareness in you which will help you control those thoughts which is unnecessary. Do this for a week to understand the pattern of thoughts and what triggers these thoughts. always do a reality check with those thoughts. This will help you to stop your thought as you say it to yourself these thoughts are baseless.

Let's start preparing responses so next time you can face the situation assertively.

Think of what you would do and what you would say :

Imagine there is a person staring at you? whom you are not going to meet again? what could you say?

If person continue's staring how can you be assertive?

if person regularly stares at you how can you handle the situation?

Can you talk to your friends or close ones about it?

Think of various responses in advance and be prepared to handle the situation based on it.

You can also look back at the person that will make him understand that you are noticing.
You can ask the person if anything is wrong

I hope this helps

erohan

Hi! If I understood correctly, you are uncomfortable when you are being watched.... and panic appears.... from what thoughts do you have panic? perhaps you think that you are perceived negatively by others? or that something bad is about to happen? then you need to talk to yourself and adjust yourself to the fact that others perceive you differently, and positive and negative, and neutral, and you are not in any way threatened by it.

raynor

Hi!!! Apparently, you are uncomfortable when men look at you, feel that they like you, because you would like to like women.... Or haven't realized who you'd like to like.... Accept your orientation and accept that people will outwardly perceive you as the other sex.

gunnar

Try to analyze your anxiety - this analysis can be done from your text. You track who pays attention to you - guys or not, and depending on the attention of people you have different emotions. Perhaps you need to work on your gender identity and its awareness.

schaefer

Why are you so dependent on people's looks? What bad things will happen because they look at you? What will change in your life? Relax, live in peace! Good luck and good mood!!!

genesis

My support!!! Don't fixate on bad thoughts, think about pleasant things when you go to a cafe...the fact that other people like you is good.

howell

Hi! I understand you, it's scary when an unpleasant person is watching.... Then you start thinking why he is looking, watching, watching, watching, what if he is a maniac.... But it's all just thoughts, that's why my hands shake with fear.

delta

I realized that you are uncomfortable taking pictures when people are watching you...feeling dirty is a feeling of shame...why are you uncomfortable when you take pictures? you are not doing anything wrong...don't worry and don't pay attention to the stares.

delta

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clevebarr

Don't let fear stop you. Sometimes we fear failure or criticism, and this can limit our opportunities. But remember, it is only by stepping out of our comfort zone that we can grow and develop. Be brave and go forward, even if it causes fear. You can overcome any difficulties!

lesch

Hi! probably the anxiety is caused by the thought that you are doing something wrong when you take photos.... maybe you are ashamed to do it? try to change your attitude towards your work to a positive one.... try to abstract from the reactions of other people...