Running with social anxiety, how to overcome this ????

This is easier said than done, but don’t even think about other people that might see you or what they might think. You’re a grown man and you’re gonna work your ass off to get back in shape. That’s an admirable goal if I’ve ever heard one. Sure some might look look at you weird, but what do you care? As far as you’re concerned they don’t even exist and you’re just doing what you need to do to get where you want to be.

Anyone that would look down on someone for exercising is a dbag anyway. If anything, I bet most people would think positively of you for working out. Now most people on this site probably don’t have social anxiety (at least anything above the norm), but I can almost guarantee you that everyone here has been called a [email protected], had stuff thrown at them, etc. while running and yet they continue to do it. Why? Because we do it for our own enjoyment and don’t care what others might think. That’s gotta be your mindset. You’re doing what you want to do, period.

Don't worry no one is noticing your bizarre disproportionate body spaz mannerisms and trailing scent of bo, virginity and ball cologne

Which southern state do you live in? Louisiana? Florida (the most southern state in the US)? Texas (the second most southern state in the US)?

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LOUISIANASATURDAYNIGHT wrote:

Which southern state do you live in? Louisiana? Florida (the most southern state in the US)? Texas (the second most southern state in the US)?

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You should read about the spotlight effect:

You think everyone is paying attention to you, but in reality they don’t care about you as much as how they care about themselves. We are all in our own spotlight and we think we’re the major characters - we’re not - at least to others.

That is why when I was in college and so obsessed with running, I’d go to the dining hall wearing 2” split shorts.

Sometimes I’d eat and go for multiple plates of buffet food and I’d stay there 30-45 minutes at a time.

I was basically in my boxers but at the time I already knew what the spotlight effect or theory was, and I chose to believe in it.

You need some cognitive dissonance, but if you really believe that all humans are equal and deserve respect and kindness, then when you think about yourself - you’re no different from them.

So I did whatever I wanted. From junior to senior year in college is go running almost every day and the eat dinner in my split shorts.

I turned a lot of people away from me but I was so obsessed about running. When I think back - yeah, it was cringe, but because I went through that experience I can tell you that no one cares as much about you or your appearances as they do themselves.

It was this obsession with running, being fast, shaving my legs and being proud of my legs that I could go into the dining common or restaurants and eat in my split shorts. No one gave me shite about it because they could tell I was serious about my running.

You gotta be serious about your running for you to go anywhere in split shorts.

If I didn’t keep up with my running, I wouldn’t be able to pursue soccer training as I am now and I want to go the MLS. I didn’t quit my training and I have that obsessed running background that is my mileage and now I’ll put it to use for soccer.

Going somewhere and having people recognize you from seeing you running is about the worst thing in the world, it's irrational but I'm right there with you bud. If you run later at night you can hit the track and usually nobody is there and you don't have to worry about passing the same people over and over.
Or find a trail/path that has the least amount of people on it. There's a bike path near me that takes a couple miles to get to. Sometimes I'll drive to the start so I don't have to run towards it and have all the drivers see me.

Go out there with a mission of passing as many people as possible after working up the worst body odor imaginable. You will survive to see another day.

People expect runners to be stinky, dont worry about it bro. Also most people have no idea what good form looks like.

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Southern Runner.. wrote:

So I have a serious question for people who have social anxiety. Since graduating college, I've let myself go like most people. I kept myself in decent shape until age 28, then I gained about 30 pounds between 28 and 30. The problem now is, the region of the country/ state that I live in, no one really runs, so if I were to run around this small rural town people would stare at me as if I were crazy. There are a few paved tracks designated for exercise, but they are in high traffic areas, and there are bleachers at one where people just like to sit and stare at the people exercising. And one of the problems I have with loop tracks is that you have to pass the same people multiple times, and I know its stupid but I get self conscious about body odor and running form whenever I run past someone, I don't exactly smell nice after a hard workout and I workout after work, I can carry a bottle of cologne to spray my balls with to hinder the BO but still. Anybody feel subconsious about BO and running form when running? How do you overcome it?

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Have a few swigs of the Old Grand Dad before your run.

Louisiana guy here. Lots of runners here. Never had any issues, nor ever really hear of any while running. In my experiences, and contrary to many beliefs, the redneck big truck types tend to move way over away from me when running. To the OP, those people whom you encounter probably are paying as much attention to themselves as you are to yourself, therefore, they aren't looking at you. Be you and enjoy your life.

Yes! No one cares because they are too worried about others caring about themselves!

Also read Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, or listen to it.

Stop worrying about others and channel that energy into positivity towards your training.

Body odor could also be stemmed from diet. A plant based diet rich in fruit could help alleviate some natural BO. Eating Garlic specifically helps this. Use essential oils to mask odor as well.

Lots of good responses here. I'll add one contribution. I think you should probably stop spraying cologne on your balls.

When social anxiety makes a left turn, you make a right turn and lose it for good.

10x400m on 90s rest, no shirt, male pattern baldness, back hair, and 30% BF

Get r done, son. Just don't hog lane 1 if there's someone faster out :D

Honestly, it sounds like you'd be happier doing your runs as far away from people as possible. You said you live in a small rural town, so go find some out of the way roads or trails to run on.

3/10

You got some bites, so congrats. But cologne on the junk at age 30?

From FL and can confirm that people will stare/yell. It REALLY depends where in FL you are though. I live in Tampa and there is no staring/yelling but when we go somewhere less populated, there is a lot of staring/yelling. I have never been as scared as when I was running in Hawthorne (right outside of Gainesville where UF is) and was going down a dirt road with some old run down houses. This toothless hillbilly man saw me coming while he was sitting on his front porch and proceeds to stand up and start hobbling towards me yelling 'WHAT'RE YA RUNNIN FER LIL GURL YA CAN COMIN MY PLACE N ILL MAKE SHURE YER OKAY. ILL TAKE CARE A YA JIST COMIN MY HOUSE.'

I fkn ran the fastest I have ever run in my life, and as I tore past him he hollered 'YOU B!$%H IM JIST TRYIN TAH BE NICE.' and proceeded to throw something at me. To clarify I am actually a woman.

Run very early.

If you are too self conscious to start from the house in running gear then don't. Drive/bike away from the house in jeans then take them off. I did that when I started.