Things That Shouldn’t Give Me Anxiety, But Do (Part Three)
by Allison on July 30, 2012
in (I Love) Lists
- Doing introductions as a group while in a circle makes me panic about ‘messing up’ my own. I will sit there silently reciting my own introduction over & over again in my head until it is finally my turn.
- People who share my name – I get nervous when I meet other people with my name. & this is because for some reason, spelling always arises. “My name is Allison/Allyson/Alison/Alyson too! How do you spell yours?” There is the pause of packed anxiety before the answer. “Oh, you spell it with two L’s…” & they trail off. & it is awkward because -one L or Y- Allison’s have led a different life than -two L, one I- Allison’s.
- Going through security detectors – It could be as complex as the security at the airport or as harmless as the ones at the video store exit. I exhale deeply & step through as quickly as possible. & it isn’t connected to guilt. It is connected to fear of being innocent & the alarm going off anyway.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Going through customs does the same for me, even though I’m innocent.
We’re always SO innocent.
YES. Customs is the worst. I actually get stressed out whenever I have to admit that I shared an apartment with another girl named Amanda. I feel like it makes me weird, to have friends with my same name.
I hear you sister!
The Michele vs Michelle convo always leads to a dead end.
Do you remember me being a sweaty babbler when we went through customs on our way to CA? Did I tell you I had to go through the full body scanner at the Montrose airport, of all places? EEP.
I’m surprised that Montrose even HAS a body scanner at their airport.
WoW – I definitely also recite my introductions when in a group! And i’m always in groups with these amazingly overachieving people who say what they’ve done SO much better than I would! AND I agree about the airport security, makes my heart beat soo fast, and I have to fiddle with my laptop that used to be full of anti-capitalism stickers, just makes me panic.