Suspicious security guards reacting to an anxious expression

[worrybag]

I am socially avoidant, but I force myself to do things like shopping and in some shops I cope really well. What I don't enjoy is if there is one or more security guards watching me. My anxious expression and nervous, tense manner makes them suspicious, and then I start to doubt my behaviour, and the more I try to control my anxiety, the worse it gets. I've had a few of them stand near me and just stare at me. I think often security guards have the mentality of sharks, fear, like blood, makes them aggressive. I am tempted to think that they are often mentally inactive people with poor social skills. I know a lot of companies train their staff better and are more aware and sophisticated about human behaviour and can distinguish between social anxiety and criminal behaviour, there is a difference, even if some people don't bother to make a distinction. I hate being followed and watched, it is really unethical to treat people like this, and now I only go into a few stores that seem to have a more enlightened attitude to customers. I have had staff step out in front of me as I've been walking through the shop to harass me because I appear tense. I was taking something out of my bag and a security guard started towards me because he thought I was trying to steal something. It is hurtful to be treated differently because I am anxious and it just reminds me of what a huge handicap this is, people don't accept you and they persecute you for being different and because they can't understand what it is like to have this anxiety. If they were ever in a situation that made them depressed and broken down, it could happen to them just as easily, and then they would need every bit of understanding they could get, no different to me.

[maptheworld]

I am socially avoidant, but I force myself to do things like shopping and in some shops I cope really well. What I don't enjoy is if there is one or more security guards watching me. My anxious expression and nervous, tense manner makes them suspicious, and then I start to doubt my behaviour, and the more I try to control my anxiety, the worse it gets. I've had a few of them stand near me and just stare at me. I think often security guards have the mentality of sharks, fear, like blood, makes them aggressive. I am tempted to think that they are often mentally inactive people with poor social skills. I know a lot of companies train their staff better and are more aware and sophisticated about human behaviour and can distinguish between social anxiety and criminal behaviour, there is a difference, even if some people don't bother to make a distinction. I hate being followed and watched, it is really unethical to treat people like this, and now I only go into a few stores that seem to have a more enlightened attitude to customers. I have had staff step out in front of me as I've been walking through the shop to harass me because I appear tense. I was taking something out of my bag and a security guard started towards me because he thought I was trying to steal something. It is hurtful to be treated differently because I am anxious and it just reminds me of what a huge handicap this is, people don't accept you and they persecute you for being different and because they can't understand what it is like to have this anxiety. If they were ever in a situation that made them depressed and broken down, it could happen to them just as easily, and then they would need every bit of understanding they could get, no different to me.

I know how you feel. I would look so tense people I didn't even know would look and talk about me at the mall. And it used to kill because they don't even no me. It makes me think am I really the one with the problem? I have really bad anxiety...but I wouldn't do that to someone... I'm not a bad person.

[240sxMan]

I actually work in a clothing store and I feel your situation except its the other way around. Since there isn't any security I am told to watch for suspicious behavior however I feel uncomfortable watching people. Like I am in their personal business . It's not as bad as it was in the past because I shop frequently and so the tables are turned and I am the one being watched. Also I know that I tend to judge all of my actions (although now a lot less) as well by asking myself whether or not everything I do is right or wrong.
maptheworld I feel your situation too at times. What has helped me is practicing mindfulness meditation (which has a real positive effects) and reading Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies.