Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with nervous

I wanna go home! follow follow I wanna go home! "Uh, why are you following me?"

curagea — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:36:02 -0800

Bipolar force of gravity - how to stop shaking and feeling like I got to run away, or feeling like I got to be someone all the time Sometimes when I'm conversing with friends or acquaintances, I get the sudden feeling to just run away and get away from the talking scene. Just leave without saying a word and go home. I'm not sure why. It doesn't happen as often with family and close friends, but it still happens with them, nevertheless.

Usually the feeling is accomplished with a sudden rush of exasperation and maybe some nervous shaking. The nervous shaking doesn't surprise me, since I always was nervous and shy since childhood, and my friends or colleagues would often crack me up enough for the shaking to go away. It's the run-away feeling that bothers me.

What stinks is that it can happen even in interesting conversations, ones that I love to talk more about and gain a deeper understanding of. It's like my mind is divided in half: one loves the subject and talks about it, the other wants to curl up by herself and shut up.

What double stinks, though, is sometimes I get the opposite: I want to be someone, tag along, and never go home, ignoring the fact that hey, people have private lives too. It's like the tag-along kid habit. There were occasions where I almost followed my friends or my brother into the bathroom, like I don't want to leave them alone.

In this case, my mind acts differently: One side says, "Ok, c'mon, homework time." The other says, "No, I wanna be with my fwiends *whine whine whine*!" This condition worsens the more interesting a conversation or a hangout with friends gets to be.

So what could be behind this? Some obsessive-compulsive symptom (I admit I am somewhat OC, though not officially diagnosed)? Social anxiety? Desire for social interaction? ???

They slammed me and then gave me a raise.

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:18:20 -0800

PerformanceReviewFilter: I got a less than sterling review at work, but I still got a 10% raise. What gives? I just had my 6 month review and it was painful. Granted, this is the first review I've ever had, but it hurt.

I work as an attorney at a small firm. My bosses brought me in there and basically pointed out everything I've been doing wrong so far. They both asked me questions and I simply froze up on some of them. I felt really embarrassed and they had very little that was good to say. Still, I got a pay increase of 10%.

Then, this morning, my new supervisor said that one of the bosses feels that I'm not coming along as quickly as he'd hoped I would. She said that my job was not in jeopardy, but I'm freaking out.

Should I start preparing my resume, or does this sound like honest criticism and an interest in seeing me improve?

If you need more details or want to e-mail, please e-mail worriedatwork at gmail dot com.

Hack Hack Hyeeeuuueegh

Ambrosia Voyeur — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:19:18 -0800

What can I do about this empty-stomach retching? When I haven't eaten, like first thing in the mornings, I retch a little at the drop of a hat. Yeah, I know what that sounds like. BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN PREGNANT. So unfair.

I think this has only been the case since I got off the birth control pill, and I probably think that because I had some vaguely hormonal nausea-related issues in the past. When I was on the pill, for example, taking it on an empty stomach or even a relatively empty stomach would give me horrible nausea leading to copious retching and vomiting. Now, what I have feels more like a nervous stomach. If I get up quickly, or see something unsavory, smell smoke, or jeez, encounter a stiff breeze, I cough and retch a little, but it's not a down-on-my-knees-hugging-the-toilet situation. I never actually throw up from this, but I bet if I went down in front of the toilet, I surely would.

If I've eaten a meal, this goes away. Unfortunately, I can't just be putting food on my pain all the damn time. A big breakfast does not jive with my weight loss plan. I think eating too much and drinking too much booze may have contributed to this sorry state of affairs, too. So, I'm making a big effort to put those behaviors in check. I'm also a sufferer of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, so this kind of thing could be yet another creative way my body expresses stress. There are many, after all.

So, that's the whole picture. Please assist. What are good ways to settle my stomach, short off going back on the pill or eating heavy foods? Herbal tea? Pepto Bismol? Old Morning Sickness aids? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Coughing and gagging in front of people is getting old. Thanks.

Nervous Nelly; don't want to be a Floppy Frank

wastelands — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:57:13 -0800

How do I perform well after abstaining from sex for four years? I'm a male in my late 20s. Due to depression and social anxiety, I have not had sex or a girlfriend for about four years. It doesn't help that my last sexual experiences were with someone super neurotic, who ended up making me nervous, and was the only woman I've lost erections with.

The problem is that I've been feeling better for awhile, more confident... I asked someone out recently and she said "yes"! I'm strongly physically attracted to her and she finds me attractive as well.

I'm afraid that if/when we finally do the deed, she'll see how awkward and out of practice I am and it'll turn her off. I want to impress this woman because I am into her more than I've been into someone for a long time. I don't want to screw it up. Help!

Biofeedback. What's the deal?

kmtiszen — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:00:36 -0800

BiofeedbackFilter: What can expect from Biofeedback in regards to a nervous disorder? My doctor has recommended biofeedback as treatment for a nervous tic that I've been experiencing at different levels of severity for a long time now. I really don't know much about the process, but I'm kind of worried it's one of these new-agey treatments that only work if you believe they work. Does anyone have experience with biofeedback and do you think it will be beneficial in helping me control the anxiety/tics?

And s-so I told him, n-no, man, y-you can't keep that h-horse!

Glitter Ninja — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:54:10 -0800

FirstDateFilter: How do I keep my calm and not turn into a stammering sticky pile of jello? It's been a while since I've been on a real date. By a while, I mean something like three years. I tend to stick to internet relationships as a general rule, because I'm a little afraid of committment- but I met this great guy at my friend's party. Sweet, funny, nerdy, and shy- but the problem is, I am too!

When confronted with something of importance, I tend to turn into a stammering, stuttering, babbling mess- stumbling over my words, talking incessantly about nothing, going off on long tangents, just generally making everyone feel bored and awkward- then once I realize it, I turn about a million shades of pink, but can't seem to calm down and stop. This is going to be a double date with the friend whose party I met him at and her boyfriend (who is his coworker), so the situation will be somewhat alleviated, but I'm not sure just how much.

Please, hive mind- tips on keeping myself composed, keeping on topic, not talking too much, and NOT stuttering and stammering through what I do say? I have a huge girly crush on this guy, and really don't want to mess it up.

Help me look at good looking women without guilt.

convex — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:58:14 -0800

Why do good looking women make me nervous and guilty when looking at them? I have been noticing that speaking or interacting with a good looking woman makes me nervous as hell. While if they were average or even ugly I don't get nervous! Even looking at a woman in a certain setting, makes me guilty if she was good looking, but if she was average I don't have a problem.
It is almost like looking at a disfiguered person, I try not to look in order not to make them feel bad. Same guilt comes to me when looking at a sexy or cute woman! Maybe for different reasons that I don't know.
Is this something common or a well known behavior? And how do I get over it?

I'm odd enought already thank you very much!

clubfoote — Wed, 31 May 2006 12:53:32 -0800

Help!I think I'm "catching" a nervous tic. How can I stop this before it gets out of hand? Background:
I work in an open office with 6 others, not cramped but not overly spacious either. The co-worker who sits infront of me has a tic where he shakes his head back and forth from side to side, in a look right, look left motion. Its not constant, but still at least a few times a day. I noticed it immediately, and kind of smirked to myself, but otherwise it didn't bother me. I've been here about a month, and today I did it!

I know that its not contagous in the classic sense, so how can I avoid doing this regularly, since obviously the power of suggestion has started to take hold.

Inhibitory post synaptic effects in the PNS?

j-urb — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:33:22 -0800

Biopsychology extra credit question and I have no idea... "Why do you suppose activation of the first synapse of the parasympathetic nervous system produces excitatory post synaptic effects, but activation at some target organs produce inhibitory post synaptic effects (i.e. slowing down organ activity)?"

Question number 8343

abcde — Tue, 29 Jun 2004 18:32:13 -0800

So I have some kind of color viewing impediment, but it seems rather nonstandard. [mi]

How to get rid of a nervous tic in the eye

ascullion — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 02:42:35 -0800

I've had a nervous twitch in my left eye for four days now, and it's driving me mad. Any tips for getting rid?