I feel like everyone is looking at me: why is this happening?

I’m walking down the street, taking public transportation, or eating in a restaurant, and the same thing always happens: I feel like everyone is looking at me. When I look up, I notice that strange and unknown people have their attention on me, and this makes me uncomfortable and disturbs me. Why it happens? What I can do?

If the above situations sound familiar to you, you are not alone. All people have felt watched at some point; In fact, they were surely being observed, and human beings are curious by nature. However, if this happens to you too often, it may be a subjective misperception that you need to correct.

Why do I feel like everyone is looking at me?

If we frequently experience that others look at us, it is advisable to ask for help to find out what is happening to us.

First of all, it should be noted that it is natural that we sometimes feel watched. None of us can help but notice those around us when we are bored or have nothing to occupy our minds. Observing others in public spaces not only entertains us, but allows us to learn (in the end, we are social animals).

Furthermore, human beings we are able to notice the gaze of others with great ease. Even with our back turned, we can feel if someone is looking at us. This phenomenon is known as “scopaesthesia” and it serves an evolutionary function by keeping us alert to our surroundings.

Now, for most people this is nothing more than anecdotal. If you experience these sensations very frequently, it may be due to one of the following reasons.

1. Physical appearance

It’s without doubt that very attractive people attract more attention down the street But this is not only due to appearance or body shape but also to charisma, attitude and non-verbal language. Thus, it is possible that others look at you because they find you attractive or you give them a pleasant feeling.

The same happens with the extravagant people, who wear flashy clothing or unusual hairstyles. What is different draws attention, and sometimes we are not very subtle when we pay attention to those who do not go unnoticed.

2. Social phobia or extreme shyness

Regardless of whether you are really attracting stares, it is likely that your feeling that everyone is looking at you is due to an erroneous subjective perception. This is common in people who suffer from social phobia or those who suffer from extreme shyness. These individuals They have a strong sense of the ridiculous and a great fear of being judgedevaluated or rejected by others.

This leads them to remain alert to the evaluation that others make of them. They are pending external approval and the reactions they cause in others. Because of this, they may feel watched to a greater extent than other people.

3. Heightened self-awareness

Even if you don’t suffer from social anxiety, you may have high self-awareness. This is something we all experience in certain situations; for example, when we have to speak in front of an audience.

In those moments we are very aware of the image we project and what others may think about it; somehow We become external observers of ourselves and take great care in our actions and gestures.

For some people, this is almost constant. Their attention is excessively focused on themselves and they monitor everything they say and do, how they move and gesture at any time of the day. This heightened self-awareness can lead them to believe that others are as concerned about them as they are themselves, when this is not so.

4. Insecurities and low self-esteem

Some people enjoy feeling watched – in fact, most of us have had this feeling; However, the opposite usually happens: hogging eyes causes discomfort and impairs performance; We can feel ridiculous, embarrassed, wonder if we have a stain on our clothes, if we are disheveled or if we are behaving inappropriately. In any case, I attribute the looks to my own fault or defect.

For this reason, it is common for people who feel watched to also suffer from low self-esteem, which makes them feel insecure. Again, By having a negative image of themselves they may feel that others share it and that strangers on the street may be criticizing or judging them negatively.

People with low self-esteem may think that if others look at them it is because of some defect of their own.

5. Electromagnetic waves and low frequency sounds

The sensation of feeling observed, of that perception that seems extrasensory, also has to do with forces and waves of which we do not receive a conscious perception. Thus, in 2010 a study was published that relates transcranial stimulation with electromagnetic waves and mystical sensations of presences. The subjects, when faced with stimulation, felt observed by presences that were not there.

On the other hand, it is known that frequencies below 20 Hz produce physiological activation, but no sensory correlate.. Although more research is still needed, the discomfort caused by these infrasounds could be involved in the sensation of feeling observed.

6. Paranoid traits

Finally, we cannot rule out the possibility that there is some underlying psychological disorder. An example is people with paranoid personality disorder feel extreme suspicion, distrust others and claim that others always have malicious intentions towards them. This can be reflected in feeling constantly watched.

Something similar can happen if a delusional disorder occurs. In this case, the person may think that others look at him because of his grandiosity or with a persecutory purpose. In any case, is convinced that this observation is real and responds to a clear reason.

What can I do if I feel like everyone is looking at me?

If you feel like everyone is watching you and this situation is affecting your daily life, it is important that you seek professional help. As we have seen, the causes can range from low self-esteem to an anxiety problem or a more serious disorder. In any case, it is essential to receive support to treat the origin and obtain tools to manage what you feel.

Perhaps it is enough to improve your self-esteem and self-confidence; The fear of being evaluated may need to be addressed or the excessive mental focus you place on yourself may need to be addressed, or a deeper, more comprehensive intervention may be necessary.

Only A specialist can help you find the origin and reverse this situation. that bothers you, so don’t hesitate to ask.

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