I’m going to talk to you about ways you can think differently when you worry that people will think you’re weird.​

Hi, I’m Ilia Jones, Licensed Professional Counselor in Suwanee, Georgia. When you walk into a room or a social situation and start thinking, “Everyone here probably thinks I’m weird,” that thought can make you feel anxious, self‑conscious, and tempted to withdraw.​

One way to handle this is to remind yourself that you actually do not know what other people are thinking, and that most people are much more focused on themselves than on judging you. You can tell yourself something like, “I’m just guessing what they think,” or “They might actually be glad I’m here.”​​

You can also shift your focus from “What do they think of me?” to “How do I want to show up right now?”. For example, you might decide, “I want to be kind,” or “I want to be curious,” and then pay attention to your actions instead of trying to read other people’s minds.​​

Practicing this kind of thought shift over time can make social situations feel less threatening and help you feel more comfortable being yourself, even if some people do think you are a little different.​​