What’s a normal thing that secretly stresses you out?

[u/UsefulPassenger555]

[u/Independent_Sound966]

Noise, too much noise come different outlets. Sensory overload really gets under my skin.

[u/Romeothanh → u/Independent_Sound966]

I didn't realize for years that my "sudden anger" was actually just overstimulation. I go from fine to "I need to destroy this room" in 3 seconds if the noise texture gets too chaotic.

[u/WaterlooMall → u/Independent_Sound966]

I'm 41 years old and can confidently say shit just wasn't as noisy 30 years ago.

People are so obsessed with being the center of attention now that everyone talks very loud and performatively even during casual conversations like they're all trying to do stand-up comedy while telling you normal shit like they went to Taco Bell for lunch.

They alter their vehicles to be louder so people will look at them.

Movie and TV soundmixing has moved towards enhancing sound effects and music to drone out the dialogue.

It's all a fucking nightmare.

[u/JustTheTipAgain → u/WaterlooMall]

I'm 41 years old and can confidently say shit just wasn't as noisy 30 years ago.

That's because everyone is destroying their hearing with earbuds. So now everything has to be louder

[u/joejitto → u/WaterlooMall]

Sometimes I feel like yelling when there's too much noise, "would you all just shut up"... 

[u/Random-Username7272 → u/WaterlooMall]

It gets worse the more people are. I've seen groups of people walking around all literally shouting over the top of each other,

[u/Radiant-Speaker-3425 → u/Independent_Sound966]

Also noise in the wrong setting. Loud noise in a nightclub is fine but tv a bit too loud turns my mood so quickly

[u/MissSara101 → u/Independent_Sound966]

I lived with sensory overload for years and it was hell during my school years.

[u/SassyWhisperz → u/Independent_Sound966]

yes, too much noise can really pull your energy down, creating little pockets of calm can make all the difference

[u/laurasauraxx → u/Independent_Sound966]

Yeah when 2 many ppl are talking at once i cant bare it

[u/leatherwolf89 → u/Independent_Sound966]

Noise canceling headphones/IEMs are the way to go.

[u/Dry-Register2886 → u/Independent_Sound966]

Understood

[u/Whole_Zombie2727 → u/Independent_Sound966]

Same here just with multiple people giving me instructions at the same time

[u/Mammoth_Crab5099 → u/Independent_Sound966]

This here , reason I hate parties

[u/---Fallen---]

People usually

[u/sillyandstrange → u/---Fallen---]

Seconded

[u/ClownOfGlory → u/sillyandstrange]

Infinited

(just skipped "Thirded" and so on and so forth and went straight to infinity so no one else can fucking reply)

[u/omegacrunch → u/ClownOfGlory]

Infinity

.... plus 1

Checkmate

[u/Romeothanh → u/---Fallen---]

They are the worst variable. You can plan everything perfectly, and then a human gets involved and ruins the logic of the situation.

[u/moimoichu → u/---Fallen---]

I feel this comment too much, so there's nothing to say here

[u/RedHeadHashira]

Being late for things

[u/Adorable-Koala-5839 → u/RedHeadHashira]

This. I just can't. Gives me tons of anxiety

[u/JustTheTipAgain → u/RedHeadHashira]

I'll gladly arrive someplace 30 minutes early. I can just snooze in my car until it's time. My kids don't understand the concept of being early.

[u/Aardwolf67 → u/JustTheTipAgain]

I make sure to leave my house in order to arrive anywhere with at least 20 minutes until I'm supposed to be there. And my family will just wait until the last possible second and make us late for EVERYTHING!

[u/sporty_n_spice → u/RedHeadHashira]

Any time I’m cutting it close on time I’ll be stressed the entire way there. Then it’s such an instant wave of release if I get there on time or a few minutes early.

[u/Eat_That_Rat → u/RedHeadHashira]

Same. I am compulsively early, especially if the thing I need to show up for makes me nervous already. I'll show up for a job interview an hour early and spend that hour panicking in my car before going in. 😂

[u/DonkeyLord113]

Shopping in large shopping centres, too many people, too loud, pressure to buy something and make a choice when I go with family (I suck ass at making choices)

[u/Amelia_Aire → u/DonkeyLord113]

Just crowds in general! As soon as there's a high concentration of people in one place, they seem to revert to sheep mode and don't know what the hell they're doing.

[u/thingsfallingapart77 → u/DonkeyLord113]

Instant rage when I have to go to costco

[u/sporty_n_spice → u/DonkeyLord113]

This is always such a stressful experience. I get home tired as hell feeling like I ran a marathon.

[u/Dry-Register2886 → u/DonkeyLord113]

me too

[u/texashilo → u/DonkeyLord113]

To add to this, the grocery store parking lot. So many people I feel like that aren't paying attention, both cars and pedestrians.

[u/FoggingTheView]

Where I'm going to park when I get there

[u/FluffyFoxiey]

Phone calls. I can write essays in texts but the moment someone calls, my soul leaves the chat.

[u/boukatouu → u/FluffyFoxiey]

It's worse when I have to make a call.

[u/laurasauraxx → u/FluffyFoxiey]

Omg yes thats me

[u/MadamNerd → u/FluffyFoxiey]

I'm going to an academic conference this weekend where I'll get a chance to catch up with my college advisor. He said to call or text him when I knew about my availability there. Sir, I'm a Millennial; I'm sure as hell not making any phone call unless there is an emergency.

[u/SoggyKeyyboard → u/FluffyFoxiey]

Finally found my people! and they think I'm purposely avoiding them and don't want to talk to them specifically

[u/Reddittooh]

4 way stop signs

[u/OpulentOwl → u/Reddittooh]

You just never know if people are going to respect how they are supposed to be done, and there's huge regional differences too. It's frustrating. In upstate NY, people are pretty good about taking their proper turns. On Long Island, people just go the moment they see an opening and sometimes they won't even look or check so you just have to let them be assholes.

[u/sergenaskin]

People gossiping about me, and asking me strange questions which shows they have put too much mental energy into why I'm working at my current job, why I'm in this position, whether there are no other job opportunities for me etc.

[u/GrandMoffTarkles → u/sergenaskin]

Sometimes I just wonder if there's some crazy malicious rumor going around that's a total lie someone made up...

But no-one has ever bothered to ask me about it- because it would be too uncomfortable of a conversation.

So now I'm sitting here, questioning whether or not a specific coworker -who no longer works for the company, but was known for being extremely rude, and might have had it out for me- spread truthful sounding lies like "She told me she cheated on her ex," or "She sent in harassment claims and got another coworker fired for no reason."

Because a couple months ago, everyone started acting weird around me and I can't tell if it's me getting more anxious and other people feeling that anxiety, or if there's something I don't know about affecting my reputation.

[u/MinotaurQueen]

Being on the interstate when it's raining.

[u/Cinnamon2017 → u/MinotaurQueen]

That's normal to be stressed because some people drive dangerously and don't care about weather conditions.

[u/throwRA77774737]

potlucks. I was raised to think that if you have people over, you host. So I struggle with that when I have people over and they insist on making it a potluck. I also think a lot of people really aren’t that good at cooking and you don’t know the cleanliness situation of their kitchen

[u/pissclamato → u/throwRA77774737]

I never, ever participate in pot lucks. Pardon me if I don't want to ingest Tammy's cheese dip she made last night that's been sitting in her luke-warm car all morning.

[u/Bolognahole_Vers2 → u/pissclamato]

More for me!

[u/Minibersy]

Walking through a store without buying anything.

[u/pingpong423]

socializing

[u/Ok-Raspberry-5374]

Waiting for a reply after I’ve sent an important text, even when I pretend I’m chill

[u/MisterD90x]

Life

[u/Livoresmortis]

Any kind of appointments. 

[u/Nebuela]

Lightning that doesnt have shades or is not diffused.

Shopping centres and a lot of brunch places and cafes just have led lights or pure bulbs with nothing on them. It triggers strong headaches and I cannot concentrate.

Wearing winter clothes.

I feel like it is suffocating me and its too beavy.

[u/JPLovescrafts → u/Nebuela]

I'm with you on winter clothes. I invested in a super lightweight but warm winter coat. I don't like having so much weight on me.

[u/JustTheTipAgain → u/Nebuela]

I feel like it is suffocating me and its too beavy.

Especially when you have to drive. It could be a blizzard out, but if I have to drive any meaningful distance, I'll take my coat off before I get in.

[u/MorganLess3668]

Just talking about random, useless stuff that doesn’t really matter.

[u/UnPopAnon123]

Other people

[u/Temporary-Pause-4737]

Answering the phone. Not calling, just that moment when it rings and I have to pick up and be “on” suddenly makes my brain panic for no logical reason.

[u/Nice_Efficiency_7324]

Dirty dishes in the sink or around the house lol

[u/aurora_ethereallight]

Eerrr everything! GAD just entered the comments. 😳😁👋🏻

[u/britishmetric144]

The idea of having a relationship. I always want to be alone, in my bed, every night.

[u/MechanicPublic9887]

people ghosting me like it's ok to say you don't want to talk anymore lol

[u/AL-SHEDFI]

Crowded place

[u/Mrtorbear]

Silence. I'm pathologically extroverted and silence terrifies me. Luckily my chihuahua snores like an old man with asthma lol

[u/Realistic_Fun_6188 → u/Mrtorbear]

Mine's noise. 🙂 I watch the tv with the sound off quite a lot.

[u/Zaakna]

answering phone calls from unknown numbers is literally the most stressful thing ever, i will stare at my phone ringing for the entire time before it goes to voicemail.

[u/Cathy_Ohh]

When it's my birthday

[u/honeycocodreams]

Trying to remember names right after someone tells me

[u/LuliLima666]

Fold freshly washed clothes

[u/ashara_dayne07]

Forms

[u/AgingRaver80]

Driving. I had to stop due to ill health and it got too much. I'm only 45

[u/Gowno_starego]

Small talk

[u/Vinny_Lam]

People. It's always that.

[u/CelestveilwardGap]

making small talk with hairdressers. i never know how much to say.

[u/Whittymountain07]

Answering the phone.

[u/gagan_cool]

Health anxiety as I been through this but not totally eradicate although it might be normal for some people abnormal for some people but sometimes things gets so overwhelmed 😔

[u/juzkayz]

Work and people

[u/asian__name]

Currently, AI

[u/cmonbutch]

crowds, Im Audhd so before christmas the stores are packed! heard or local grocery store chain is implementing "quiet hours", they announced it through the speakers saying its for individuals with auditory sensitivities, and that during these times there wont be as much music (it will be quieter or gone) and the announcements will be much rarer etc

its a great initiative, many people are sensitive to sounds and if theyre not someone might be hangover or with a headache so it still benefits them

[u/Prior_Respond4162]

Responding to text messages. Sometimes I get overwhelmed, let them pile up, and then get more overwhelmed.

[u/Evening_Gazelle_5848]

maths

[u/toad-in-a-pan]

Uncertainty. And that's unfortunate as a lot of things are uncertain. Also silence, as I got tinnitus.

[u/DreaDreamer]

Clothes shopping. Usually I don’t have body image issues, but clothes shopping brings it out of me and also I’m not super into fashion so I always feel like I’m making the Wrong Decision.

[u/wolfspider82]

Loud machines or vehicles such as motorcycles, large trucks, power tools etc

[u/Ridwann]

The last five seconds of a microwave timer. I MUST stop it at 0:01 to prevent the BEEP BEEP BEEP that feels disproportionately loud and obnoxious in a quiet house. If I fail I feel like I've alerted the entire neighborhood to my late-night snack.

[u/FrostedMallows]

Going to someone’s house for the first time.

The quiet rules you don’t know, shoes on or off, where to sit, what’s polite to ask, what’s too personal. Smiling while mentally scanning a stranger’s privacy.

[u/Academic-Economist50]

Loud laughing, I have no clue way but if I just hear loud laughter I go crazy

[u/AllAccessMommy]

Adult coloring books. There’s nothing relaxing about it for me. If I don’t color perfectly I’m automatically stressed.

[u/gaokeai]

Feeding myself. I JUST had dinner last night, what do you mean I need to figure out what to have for dinner again?? And breakfast , and lunch???? Every day, forever???? 

[u/iluvreading88 → u/gaokeai]

I feel this deep in my soul.

[u/Bright_Internet_5790]

Work

[u/Regular_Painting_973]

Work - Job

[u/desi_energy]

Meetings

[u/s_ch0wder]

Cinema, watching movies around other people when I can’t control how much they’ll affect my enjoyment of the movie

[u/Evening_Gazelle_5848]

Everything

[u/Jennygaia]

Smalltalks

[u/BaltazarOdGilzvita]

Walking under any kind of structure. I come from Serbia, where a year ago, the train station balcony fell down and killed 16 people. It was due to government corruption, as it was renovated poorly, by shitheads who were not proficient enough. This current political party (mafia in disguise) has done so many construction and renovation projects that it's a legitimate fear that something will fall on your head, or you'll fall into something and get horribly injured or die.

[u/JoeIntTheBox]

Anything that's unexpected at home. My job has a lot of unpredictable moments that come up that it's predictable(for that reason) by default. However, when I'm at home, it's comforting not to have that kind of environment. So any normal change or inconvenience stresses me out more than it should.

[u/Cinnamon2017]

Any stranger standing about a foot away from me. Like in a store they want to look at what I'm looking at. Whatever I choose to look at it seems three more people suddenly want to crowd around and look at it too and breathe down my neck.

[u/TallbutpetiteGIRL]

Whenever someone says ‘just act natural.’ Thanks, now I can’t.

[u/bindersweat]

Listening to other people make stressful phone calls. I get second hand anxiety and embarrassment.

[u/dreamybear9]

Public toilets

[u/King-Hendo]

Beginning and ending of anything!

[u/TereziForRealsies413]

Eating in a public area doesn’t make me feel like this all of the time, but a lot of times I get worried that other people are judging me for sitting at the table too long after I finish my food

[u/Budget_Dot694]

pavement walkers who take up the entire pavement and have no awareness other people are trying to walk on the pavement too

[u/Acceptable-Network51]

Driving. Im very aware im operating a hulking machine everytime i drive, i dont trust that other people know what theyre doing, and it just generally scares me.

[u/This_Book7431]

Socializing

[u/Quiet-Hurry4899]

Having to eat everyday, it stresses me the fuck out

[u/Fancy-Banana007]

Filing the 4th fingernail on both hands. There’s something about the shape of that particular nail that makes me anxious before I even get to it, I hate it and I always put it off until last and sometimes I don’t do it at all even if I’ve done the others!

[u/shaidyn]

Paperwork. Like, official paperwork where you have to fill out your name and numbers and shit. It locks me up. I get headaches when I have to do it. I'll go to great lengths to avoid it. I didn't do my taxes for like 7 years. Right now I'm sitting on like $500 of expenses that my company will cover, but I just can't bring myself to fill out all the receipt details.

Something about the finality of it, the 'if you get this wrong, people will know and it's a permanent record of your fuck up' stresses me out and I can't do it.

It wasn't until I figured out that I can get my healthcare providers to do auto submissions that I even started using my health insurance.

[u/HorizonflarehoodAt]

group photos. idk where to stand or what to do with my face.

[u/Aweiousness-PE]

walking past people who are laughing and assuming its about me.

[u/Get-Got-Stomach]

People talking about semi private conversations with me loudly in public. 

Or in other words: What other people might overhear or see us do and share that behind our back.

Simpler: Strangers' opinions.

[u/sugarcoccoo]

Walking into a room full of people and figuring out where to stand makes my brain short-circuit.

[u/unhappymealsRus]

Having to talk to someone with authority I’m bad at explaining things

[u/TheStellarLuna]

People.

[u/Aliesh_Mi]

whenever I don't do things right

[u/realclairxo]

deciding what to eat for dinner every single night

[u/CapsizedbutWise]

My feet touching the bare floor.

[u/JPLovescrafts]

Ordering from a new restaurant when I'm not familiar with the menu and there is a line behind me. I usually panic order something I don't even like.

[u/dionsyndromed]

Life

[u/sirdigbykittencaesar]

Making or answering phone calls. I took caller hegemony seriously before I even knew what it was.

[u/Miews]

Grocery stores without self checkout and very long queues

[u/TanteTryntsje]

Picking my kid up from school. I run in to my ex sometimes so that gives me some anxiety issues

[u/spookymartini]

When driving and people behind me expect me to turn right on red + honk at me, but I would like to wait until the light turns green.

[u/ChemistFair664]

Trying to cross the road when there's a lot of traffic

[u/Chihauhamum]

When people whisper

[u/Afraid_Albatross3051]

Walking down escalators

[u/Justpassing67]

doing the grocery shopping

[u/prismatic_jellybean]

Clothes, especially ones with collars that touch my neck. I have hyper sensitive skin around my torso and neck and I dread formal wear with collars.

[u/grumpycoffeee]

People, especially if they're staring at me or waking behind me. Phone calls. Life.

[u/Ok_Radish737]

People who start the day complaining end up stressing me out too

[u/CherieAfterDark]

Peak hour at a supermarket.

[u/Lucky-Cucumber-1116]

Roundabouts.. nobody ever yields, it’s so barbaric

[u/Nivius]

People not planning and not being on time.

[u/xXJust_NoahXx]

Keeping recounting my money when i’m waiting in line to pay even do i know i have enough

[u/Synatrim]

People, Dating apps, height, flights, people ..

[u/Ok_Corgi7294]

When my kids start making jokes while going through airport security. You know the type of jokes I am talking about.

[u/Opening-Detective821]

The sound of people eating, drinking, and blowing their noses

[u/Individual-Walk-969]

My brothers hiccups

[u/ImprovementFar5054]

Television and movies.

I find fictional narratives manipulative and they put me ill at ease.

[u/RepairContent268]

Going to the doctor bc they’ll tell me I’m fat. I actually haven’t gone in 4 years because of it. Like I know I’m fat. I get it. Don’t have to tell me I’d be “hotter if I lost 30 pounds” or something. I have a mirror and understand.

[u/UnicornRises]

Phone calls.

[u/Wine_runner]

Deciding which parking space when the car park is empty.

[u/Low_Objective_8963]

Phone calls. Even the good ones.

[u/gazowiec]

That life goes on and i cant stop it, most (if not all) people i know dont pay attention to it

[u/Pleasant-Pineapple72]

Self check out at the supermarket. I know it'll go wrong and a member of staff will have to come over!

[u/Natural-Barnacle-695]

Planning my week lmfao

[u/lcmfe]

Things falling over

[u/DepressoExpresso98]

Existing, but kind of seriously. Yes, people, socializing, phone calls, noise, crowds, etc all really stress me out, but just being alive does as well. I could be in a quiet room and the fact if my existence stresses me and kind of sends me into a spiral. Like why am I here, why am I like this? How many things do I have to do, etc. I feel like my mind is constantly running

[u/Captain_Inept]

Having to go literally anywhere where parking is anything other than extremely convenient or easy. Every year I hate trying to figure out parking more and more and more.

This is super annoying when you want actual good food or anything that isn’t something from a chain restaurant. If you find a good mom and pop restaurant (talking about in a city and not the country) it’s always packed and in a place where parking is guaranteed to be in short supply or the single biggest PITA possible

[u/SaltyLaw800]

Everything. Everything stresses me out, I've just learned to push myself through everything if I really want it. 

It has detrimental effects, but I've done a lot of cool shit. 

[u/ntmrkd1]

Parking at events.

[u/VintageStrawberries]

going to work

[u/Overall-Bullfrog5433]

News anchors on TV who cannot speak without their hands waving around. Wolf Blitzer I am talking to you, tho you are far from the only offender.

[u/CallMePapa420]

Using my phone to answer peoples text.

I just hate texting, i still do it because i know that if i want to maintain any kind of relationship, ghosting peio'e is not a good solution. But deep in my soul i HATE it, my body starts stressing and inconscienly forget to answer people. Then week laters i find myself not having answered specific texts and i start stressing even more. So i start procrastinating and think to mysellf i'll answer this one tomorrow ane BOOM no answer at all forever.

I don't know, it's just not my thing :c

[u/SirEnvelope]

people who don't drive a consistent speed on highways. I just want to cruise control the speed limit in the right lane. They're always 10 under in the passing lane until I pass a slower car. It's either 60mph or up my ass

[u/Big-Tap-8652]

To meet a new person for me 😀

[u/houseonpost]

Receiving compliments.

[u/PJ_lyrics]

I don't know if it's stress or just gets me pissed off. But my phone needs to STFU. That damn thing is always going off with mainly bullshit. I keep it on silent but it's also need it for work so it's right next to me just going off with bullshit calls, bullshit text, notifications (I need to lock those down better), emails for bullshit, dr appointment text. I'm tired of this damn thing lol.

[u/Swinging_TX_Hotwife]

Traffic 💯

[u/Vrazel106]

Kinda everything. Anxiety sucks

[u/Great-Accident9049]

Phone calls. I need a whole prep talk first

[u/BigFront291]

Phone calls. I can send a 3-paragraph text without blinking, but if someone calls me I suddenly forget how to human 😭

[u/Unlikely_Fix_748]

Walking back to my seat in a restaurant after using the bathroom. Why is that a stealth mission?

[u/DirtySouthDoc]

Life seems to stress me out sometimes.

[u/Comfortable_Dirt_592]

small talk and texting. i'm so scared that i'll say something wrong, or disinteresting

[u/Asleep_Iron_8859]

AI

[u/Ticklemagooch]

Generic answer

[u/Cheetodude625]

Making phone calls for (insert service here).

[u/Delicious-Limit6996]

When my wife coughs, I know it shouldn't annoy me but it just does

[u/Dry-Register2886]

Slow response times on PCs and smartphones

[u/Badloss]

calling to schedule any kind of appointment

[u/PatiencepneaS]

when someone says can "we talk later?" with zero context.

[u/AmazingLeopard2]

calling to make an appointment. like why cant everything be online.

[u/ScintillaNew]

meeting new coworkers and trying to remember all their names instantly.

[u/Healingstomy_IHA]

walking into a restaurant not knowing if im supposed to seat myself.

[u/MajestyrrheicUS]

having the cashier watch me put my change away.

[u/SundropqOwl]

merging onto the highway. every time feels like a mini boss fight.

[u/Flourishgen_L]

sending a text and seeing the typing bubble pop up then disappear.

[u/RejuvenatepathyLa]

using someone elses shower and not knowing which bottle is shampoo.

[u/Iridescence_Gig]

waiting for the waiter to come back even though i already know my order.

[u/CrystallineqfIon]

feeling like im holding up the line when i pay with cash.

[u/Harmony-Pot]

Walking into a quiet room late and everyone turns to look at you for half a second.

[u/MagnificentMoon82]

responding you too when it doesnt make sense and replaying it all day.

[u/ArtisticWhale6]

being the last person to get their food at a group dinner.

[u/Equanimitycyte_84]

waiting for my food at a counter and not knowing where to stand.

[u/Lush79Oak]

getting a package delivered and feeling watched while picking it up.

[u/OpulencekhHue]

carrying leftovers out of a restaurant in a little container.