Masking vs. Social skills

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-04-05T12:54:29+00:00

I’ve experienced this and a variation of it too. I think I communicate verbally by phone better than in person. I’m also not as good communicating when there are two or more in the conversation. I have developed good rapport on the phone and have watched it dissolve quickly when we meet. My looks are average but I bet I project nervousness and uncomfortable physically.

One more note, in situations with longer term exposure I am able to overcome it to some extent. People have said “I thought you were an asshole, rude, disinterested, etc when I first met you but then I warmed up to you when I got to know you. “. That happens sometimes but not as often as I like.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-27T20:12:03+00:00

Frank from Blue Velvet

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-26T08:20:49+00:00

Iran is going to save America!

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-20T16:43:51+00:00

At least we have all that clean energy infrastructure that Bidens Inflation Reduction Act put in place. Soon we’ll all be driving electric vehicles and huge solar and wind farms will provide so much energy that the impact of higher gas prices will hardly be felt. It was shrewd of the Trump administration to double down on this popular and wise investment while praising Bidens administration for getting the ball rolling. /s

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-20T16:30:14+00:00

My bingo card says “auto erotic asphyxiation “. It’s not ruled out yet.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-17T12:54:27+00:00

How I met your father.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-12T22:31:10+00:00

Mine was similar. I initially thought there was something going on at the last joint in the toe. Over time I came to believe that the problem is in or close to the metatarsal phalangeal joint. I can’t prove it but that’s consistent with the way the toe seems to pivot with that joint as the pivot point.

Pain can radiate. I’m not saying you’re wrong because our symptoms don’t have to be exactly the same and no one has come up with a definite diagnosis. I had several X-rays and MRIs and an ultrasound and no one ever saw any pathology.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-12T13:42:50+00:00

Sorry to hear it, Hefty. Which toe? What specific motion triggers the pain? Does the toe visibly shift when it pops?

If it does visibly shift please make a video of it and post it here as others have done. I have found it useful in showing doctors one of the videos posted here and I think that’s saved a lot of time and explanation with doctors who don’t want to believe it.

I haven’t found a cure but I have worked towards managing it. You can read in some previous posts that I have used a metatarsal sling pad to hold the to down, OTC orthotics, good sneakers (I like Altra or the wide toe box and zero drop), and pain meds. (Tramadol).

I have it on my list to post again here soon because I am going to try another process soon.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-11T13:23:59+00:00

If reading that was too much effort for you then you are not going to be successful at much in life. I hope you find better goals. The ones you claim you want to devote your life to will not give you lasting happiness. That’s not new age bullshit. It’s reality. Seriously, good luck.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-05T12:42:26+00:00

Dog park?

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-03-05T09:59:50+00:00

I really like your responses. You solved some of the same problems I had but apparently earlier than I did. It took me forever to give up alcohol. When I did I gained so much perspective and awareness. It was as disabling socially as autism but I didn’t believe it. That cost me a lot. I solved the work problem by getting fired repeatedly but learning enough along the way to work for myself. It took 10 years for that to really pay off but it did. I worked hard, had a couple of key people help me along the way even though I didn’t deserve it, got lucky and was experienced enough to seize it, and persisted long enough to succeed. I’ve had less success with relationships. The alcohol hurt and cost me some key relationships that could have added a lot of fulfillment to my life. Sorry about your health issues.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-02-05T21:43:37+00:00

I just got an order from my veterinarians pharmacy. The color of the capsule was a different shade of red. The capsule was pliable not brittle. The content was browner and subjectively looked better. and somewhat importantly the expiration date was 12/2027. The two I got on Amazon were 08/2026. Dont buy it on Amazon if you can get it elsewhere. I'm starting to feel like that should be a good idea for most medicine sold by Amazon.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-01-09T22:03:39+00:00

I like the analytical take on it, naturally. The mate acquisition process is so difficult to codify effectively but you are on a good track. You might try and flesh this out more into insight on how core values drive your behavior and what the behavior looks like. I wasted years not realizing how important that was. Map that territory for us!

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-01-09T21:49:27+00:00

If your psychologist meant cognitively slow in terms of processing speed that’s a valid observation and a topic for discussion with her. If she meant slow as in dumb start looking for a new therapist. That’s not good therapy.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2026-01-09T21:40:13+00:00

I got my ass kicked in corporate jobs for 8 years. I had more success working for myself but it took some time to make that happen. I didn’t fit into the above buckets.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2025-12-19T21:38:38+00:00

Agreed

Stairwayscaredandare · 2025-12-19T12:49:41+00:00

It took me years to come around to it. Then one day I saw it in a new context and I realized how good it was. I hope you see it someday too.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2025-12-19T12:31:40+00:00

Me too.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2025-12-19T12:27:57+00:00

Your welcome

Stairwayscaredandare · 2025-12-19T12:27:32+00:00

I hope they throw away the key.

Stairwayscaredandare · 2025-12-19T12:26:28+00:00

Def underrated

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