I feel this so deeply. You’re not alone in it , I do the same thing. I like being invisible. I like not being seen. I like being small. People make me anxious, and home feels safe to me in a way nothing else does.

Walking into a room feels heavy sometimes… like all eyes might be on me even when they probably aren’t. I replay my words in my head before I say them because I’m afraid I’ll mess them up. I worry people are judging me or thinking the worst. Even eating in front of others can make me uncomfortable. It’s exhausting living like that.

I just want you to know this is more common than it feels, especially for people who are sensitive, anxious, or have been through hard things. Some people hide it better, but so many of us carry this quietly.

There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not broken. Your body is just trying to protect you in the only way it knows how.

I see you in this. And you don’t have to carry it alone.

It changes for me. I have social anxiety but that typically comes rather when I am only planning to go to public places not when I'm already there. Now when I go out, it depends on the place. If it's a supermarket, I don't care how random people perceive me. I mean, as long as the staff and security isn't eyeing me in a suspicious way, lol.

But I'm nervous when I'm about to enter an empty store and know that the staff will come to ask me what they can do for me. The more I do it the less nervous and self-conscious I am but I'm also scanning their reactions and if they look hostile and as if I was only bothering them I want to get out ASAP.

Tbh, I struggle with making formal phone calls much more because I can't see the person.

I feel fine in public and in crowds when I can come and go as I please. Most people are completely uninterested in my existence in most places. It does bother me though in public places if I feel like my solo presence as a man is imposing to others or if I feel like I'm taking up someone else's spot.

My main social anxiety issues though is two different things: when either I have to stay in close proximity to others for protracted amount of time (I can't leave - feeling trapped), or when I am required to socialize with a small group people I don't know as well as close friends/family.
It is less stressful for me to perform music for a large group than it is for me to socially entertain a room of 5 or 6 strangers.

Everyday situations I'm not worried about, I figure I'm no worse or better than anyone else and most people are too wrapped up with what's going on in their own lives to give a monkeys about what I'm doing,. That said, there have been some situations which have unnerved me, upper class "one-upmanship" that's uncomfortable, they were work colleagues of my husband who seemed to behave like they had the entire contents of a cleaning cupboard inserted up their arses. I'd much rather opt out of those situations.

When I walk into a room, I greet the other people there by name if I know their name...I look them straight in the eye, and I SMILE!

I am NEVER nervous.

I USED to be nervous...at school dances...at gym contests...when I had to speak publicly...but those days are OVER.

As a 100% normal person, I walk into a room like I own it. I'm a gentleman though and use my manners.

If I walk into a room of people I don't know I keep my head down and try to get to a corner of the room without anyone noticing me

"Normal" is quite subjective...

That thinker in my head, that's not me.

It's my awareness that walks in to any given room.

My preference for public spaces:

i am definitely ignored and made to feel invisible. in spite of being the tallest person

Depends on the situation but typically i just muddle thru the best i can

If you want to know what normal people do, you shouldn't be asking here.