Grab The Meic – Are People Looking At Me?

Thea’s self-confidence is very low, she thinks everyone is looking at her and is scared of going out. She contacted us to ask for advice in the latest Grab the Meic.

Grab the Meic is your opportunity to ask us about anything that’s worrying you. We’re here to listen and give advice. If you want to #grabthemeic then check out this page, but remember this advice is not instant. If you need advice quickly then please contact the helpline.

This article is also available in Welsh – I ddarllen y cynnwys yma yn Gymraeg – Clicia yma

Hi Meic,

I usually feel really scared when I go out in public because I feel like people are looking at me or my clothing and thinking or saying horrible things about me. I’m afraid that one day someone will say something to me, what should I do?

Thea (*name changed to protect their identity)

Meic’s Advice

Hi Theo,

Thanks for contacting Meic. Sorry to hear that you’re feeling scared to go out in public because you feel like people are looking at you and are saying horrible things about you. That must be really hard for you to deal with every day. 

Insecurity is normal

Feeling insecure about ourselves is a normal emotion that we all go through. It’s tough to deal with as it makes us feel so vulnerable, and feelings of being scared and unable to face people are hard. 

The first thing you need to remember is that you are not the only one feeling like this. We all go through stages of not feeling confident about ourselves. You would be surprised how many people feel like you every day. 

The most important thing for you to remember is that these are just your thoughts and how you are feeling about yourself. When we feel self-conscious, it’s tough to face people because it feels easier to just not to go out, but it’s really important that you try and continue to go outside.

Here are some things you could try:

Appreciate differences

One thing you could do next time that you go out is try and make a note of how different we all look. Everyone’s unique. People come in different shapes, sizes, features and styles. It’s important that we are all different from one another as this is what makes us us. It would be a bizarre world if we all looked and dressed exactly the same! 

List positives

Write down the positives about the way that you look. Your style is a reflection of your personality. Try to remember that there is nothing wrong with dressing the way you want to look. You are you for a reason, and your family and friends love you for being you.

The Children’s Society has some great tips for a positive body image on their website.

Don’t compare 

Try not to compare yourself to other people or online images of people that are usually digitally edited. 

Talk to someone

Try and confide in someone close to you how you are feeling. It is always important to talk and share our feelings with someone we trust. They can offer you the reassurance that you need to help build your confidence. If you find it difficult to start a conversation, take a look at the tips in our blog. If you feel you can’t talk to anybody and would like more support with this, contact Meic confidentially and free by phone, text or online chat. We can help you get the support you need.

Check out more about body image and how it can affect your mental health on the YoungMinds website.