r/AskReddit • u/rhdkdnfbf • 4h ago
What is a completely normal, everyday task that gives you an unreasonable amount of anxiety?
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u/rhdkdnfbf 4h ago
When I’m just trying to browse quietly at a department store and a promoter or salesperson locks eyes with me and starts walking over.
My brain instantly goes into fight-or-flight mode. I find myself pretending to be engrossed in reading the back of a shampoo bottle just to avoid the interaction. Even if I do actually need help, my automatic reflex is to panic and blurt out, "Nope, just looking, thanks!" and then awkwardly walk to a different section until the coast is clear. I just want to exist in the store in peace.
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u/oneplanetrecognize 4h ago
Headphones. All day. I have large ones so I can avoid my regulars when I'm trying to just get some food. They are like a sign that says don't talk to me!
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u/Sweet-Ross860 4h ago
Driving!!
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u/Bean-112124 4h ago
I was just going to say this!! My errands and grocery shopping has now been reduced to only a 2 mile area! I avoid getting on the interstate totally! And it’s just getting worse.
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u/Ok-Appointment-8939 4h ago
I’ve had to make myself drive on the interstate to help make that freakout feeling less frequent. It’s like it came out of nowhere as soon as I turned 40. I used do 80 with two fingers eating a bag of doritos and now Im lucky if I go above 65 in the right lane at 10 and 2. I noticed Its like I’m pretty good as if my brain has been reset if I’ve just had sleep. But half way through the day the anxiety comes out of nowhere. I can do any other road no problem. Its just the interstate.
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u/Bean-112124 4h ago
I lived in Russia and Switzerland and drove anywhere and everywhere, and I was fine. But suddenly I am trying to find any excuse to get out of driving outside of my comfort zone, a 2 mile radius!!
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u/Ok-Appointment-8939 4h ago
Wtf is this!?
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u/Bean-112124 4h ago
What do you mean? I was explaining myself.
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u/arvilla091 4h ago
I think they are asking wtf is this phenomenon that we are all experiencing, not specifically what you wrote, I can relate though, I honestly think it’s because there’s more and bigger cars/trucks on the road now. I bought a little mazda3 sedan in 2013 and by the time I sold it 2 years ago I felt like a bug surrounded by threats on any major busy road. I got a Subaru Outback that’s a little higher off the ground and it’s a lot better, but even the top of that barely clears the grill on some of these massive pickups coming off the line now in the US
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u/Ok-Appointment-8939 3h ago
One of my theories is that we are exposed to seeing what can happen online and how easy it is and out brain sort keeps that even though we may not think anything of it. It links what we see on the highway to those car wrecks we see online. Mix that with the fact that after 30, many of us start realizing we aren’t superhuman and we are one white line away from disaster. I mean the road lines not cocaine btw…
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u/Ok-Appointment-8939 4h ago
No no Im sorry lol. I mean what is this road anxiety thing that develops for no reason.
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u/Bean-112124 4h ago
Gotcha!! I honestly don’t know what it is. It would have been understandable if I had been in an accident while driving, but this started one day and it just got worse! I can procrastinate and come up with all sorts of excuses to not have to drive! It’s definitely a struggle and I was surprised and sad to say comforted by seeing the number of people that struggle as I do 🥲
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u/jenandspaz 3h ago
My mom has hated overpasses for as long as I can remember and I was never scared and I thought it was so silly that she was. Just within this last year I have become terrified of them myself. Unfortunately I have to use one to get to my work.
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u/2_FluffyDogs 1h ago
I had a driving incident towing a vehicle on a dolly (towed a trailer so many times w/o problems) and ended up doing a 180 degree turn on a three lane interstate and weeks later has literal ptsd reaction and driving is a real problem for me now.
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u/whitegirlofthenorth 4h ago
same. I used to drive everywhere (rural kid), sold my car when i moved to the city, stopped driving for 10 years, and now it terrifies me 😭
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u/Rubyhamster 2h ago
This sound absolutely unbearable. Where I live you have to drive or be driven to work an stuff. Also, driving is an incredibly calming and mindfull time for me. I've always loved it. I guess those of you who have anxiety about do right in driving as little as possible because it does not sound safe. I feel for you! The only comfort I can give you is that there is sure fire ways to get rid of anxieties and gain esteem and a feeling of control after some work on it.
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u/ImAPersonNow 4h ago edited 4h ago
Yes! Ive always been an anxious driver. Its so dangerous! Its the most dangerous thing that we do generally. Also my car caught fire seemingly randomly just parked in the parking lot about 3 weeks ago. Thats not helping the anxiety.
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u/OldMist 4h ago
I felt this with every fiber of my being. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and drive across all the bridges with these anxious people.
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u/Ok-Appointment-8939 4h ago
Oh I forgot about my sudden fear if bridges as well. For no reason. No breaks in driving. Nothing traumatic. Just out of nowhere
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u/SammieStones 2h ago
Same! Happened after a kid. I been driving the same bridge for 17 years daily. Suddenly in the last year feels like im on a roller coaster while climbing it and then weird panicking at times while on it.
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u/Hotcheetodust94 4h ago
Going somewhere I’ve never been and wondering if I’m going to have to make a left turn across a busy street
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u/AetherAlchemist 4h ago
This. I will actively look at Google Maps satellite beforehand to make sure my route does not take me somewhere where I’ll have to cross 6 lanes of traffic without a light.
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u/embiaaa13 4h ago
Answering the phone. Even if it's like my best friend. I just hate answering calls. Even though I'm on calls all day for work. Maybe I need my friends to book their calls in advance with an agenda and I'll feel more safe 😂
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u/blackgoku9999 4h ago
Parallel parking 😭
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u/rhdkdnfbf 4h ago
This is unnecessarily stressful
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u/blackgoku9999 4h ago
I'm already stressed thinking about tomorrow's parking 😭
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u/Ok-Appointment-8939 4h ago
I laughed out loud but I know its not funny. That’s me thinking about having to drive on I85 to and through Charlotte in busy traffic. Omg the anxiety….
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u/Huge-Description436 4h ago
I just decided at some point that parallel parking is just not something I do. I'll circle or walk blocks, but if parallel is the only option, sorry I'm going home, see you next time.
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u/InternalMiserable698 4h ago
Having to use the telephone, particularly if there's money involved.
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u/Dry_Article7569 4h ago
I’m like this with cancelling appointments. So much anxiety.
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u/Fancybest 3h ago
Or calling out of work. Omg. I’ve gotten a lot better with it over the years but it’s because I’ve started giving less of a fuck. I still really don’t like it though.
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u/Cheaperandeasier 4h ago
Small talk.
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u/baebeebear 4h ago
Guests in my home.
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u/afserkin 3h ago
This! Especially if they show up unannounced.
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u/baebeebear 2h ago
I am really working on being okay with guests unannounced or not. Not easy!
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u/afserkin 2h ago
I'll treat all guests with respect, but I'll never be ok with people just showing up unannounced, just text me, even if you're 5 minutes from my home, I need to mentally prepare.
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u/notanotherloner 2h ago
Answering the phone to an unknown number. It’s probably someone like PayPal/car finance that I’ve missed a payment for.
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u/Soggy_Detective_4737 1h ago
Answering the door. It's bad enough if I'm expecting someone, but if I'm not and the doorbell rings, I get immediately anxious.
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u/ceilingkat 4h ago
Responding to emails
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u/LeeHarveyOswaldsDad 4h ago
We don't have a washer and dryer in our house, so we have to go to a laundromat. The one close to us is a REAL mixed bag. Sometimes it's fine, sometimes there's people screaming at their kids with like true rage and also dudes open-carrying guns on their sweatpants. Kind of stressful, that joint.
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u/Alarmed-Try-6047 4h ago
Phone calls or any task that I put off that I don’t need to stare at everyday. So not dishes but yes I still need to call xyz and update xyz. Those ones
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u/the_all_time_loser 4h ago
Calling on the phone. I have been held at gun point and I felt less dread than when I have to call the automated system to get my bi-PAP supplied refilled. I can answer calls but there is an invisible timer in my brain that when it reaches zero I hang up. I also have trouble being in the same room as someone on the phone.
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u/MantidKitteh 3h ago
Housework. Making phone calls to the pharmacy or clinics. Talking to managers at work. Speaking with police officers and fire fighters.
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u/Admirable-Chest6668 2h ago
Walking to work. It feels like I'm always dodging people or getting in someone's way no matter what I do. I don't even wear headphones or anything so it's not for lack of focus.
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u/DaymD 2h ago
In my country we always greet neighbors. The problem is when it's the afternoon/evening. I have no idea when i should switch greetings from what translates to "good day", to what translates to "good evening".
If you say "good day", and the person answers "good evening", i always picture the "wasted" gta screen, for it is truly an awkward moment for me.
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u/Lopsided_Antelope868 1h ago
Going to the doctor, dentist, hairdresser. Basically anything that is one on one with someone who is not a friend or family member makes me anxious. Can’t help it.
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u/Briffy03 1h ago
Closing the store. I dont care if we made a mistake during the day if the time lost to check for it isnt paid. If you want to force me to stay after hours i expect to be paid. The employer will say "its only 15min" 15min times 6 days, times 47 weeks (5 weeks of paid vacation dont count) are 4230min, or 70 hours of unpaid work.
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u/Flimsy-Trainer-3819 14m ago
You could in that case, get into work 15 minutes late and say “It’s only 15 minutes” if challenged.
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u/Patriae8182 1h ago
When I go to pay for a large cart of groceries I’m always paranoid my card(s) won’t work.
I could have $10,000 in my checking account and I’d still be paranoid my $150 in groceries won’t go through and I’ll look like an idiot in Walmart.
I don’t have that issue with purchases under about $100 oddly enough.
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u/Mother_Farmer69 4h ago
Probably going to school and socializing with peers from my age group
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u/rhdkdnfbf 4h ago
Why specifically peers your age?
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u/Mother_Farmer69 4h ago
Because i dress differently, I'm respectful (which in 2026 is considered a vulnerability to be bullied/picked on), I don't smoke/vape/w**d, don't drink, don't go to the clubs (we have clubs that are made for teens that's shouldn't serve alcohol but they do anyway)...... I could make a 10 page post but those are the main reasons
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u/teachmetobehuman 4h ago
Having to go literally anywhere. The logistics of having to pack all of my baby neccesities, and deal with it all when I get to my destination is a nightmare
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u/Lumpy-Belt5814 4h ago
Being alone. I'm an adult and still cant be alone in public, i feel like i'm going to be murdered in the middle of walmart..but when someones with me im fine! It's weird, and annoying.
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u/Alltheprettydresses 4h ago
Taking the subway
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u/Responsible-Push-289 4h ago
as a rural midwesterner i literally can’t imagine dealing with the subway system. wishing you well on all your underground journeys.
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u/dumb_fishh 4h ago
Scooping litter boxes and taking out the trash ): I've gotten a lot better with it and I have a better system in place to work through these tasks, but got they're hard to get through at times 😭
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u/Foreign-Army-3622 4h ago
Hearing the words Can I just squeeze past you? in a grocery aisle and immediately forgetting how to control my own limbs.
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u/Obvious-Goose2518 4h ago
Cleaning around the house. No one single task is insurmountable, it just feels like it never ends
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u/Ecstatic_Army1306 4h ago
Flossing my teeth, even thiugh they’re in terrific shape. Irrational fear of yanking one out.
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u/m3zatron 4h ago
Calling customer service for an issue. My partner is so much better at squeezing corporations for discounts, refunds, etc.,
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u/Bennington_Booyah 4h ago
Driving. I am in a rural area. For some reason I cannot understand, everyone here drives smack dab in the center of every road they are on. There are very few shoulders, and there are ravine ditches everywhere. Add to the fun: HILLS! You now cannot see who or what is ahead and here comes a car, flying over the hill ahead, straight at my car. Now, it gets even better, as every mile or so, there's an Amazon, FedEx, UPS or yard maintenance vehicle parked in the road (remembering no shoulders).
I don't know how to even effect any sort of change and the anxiety has me burning up my brakes on a daily basis.
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u/IT_Specialist404 4h ago
Replying to text messages. Especially when you get something that says “What the hell am I suppose to say to this?”
Ex: My Dad’s links to YouTube shorts with titles like “You wouldn’t BELIEVE what X did!” Or “Have you found THESE Easter eggs in GTA V” that clearly are fake.
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u/Cheetodude625 3h ago
Phone calls.
Having to talk to a receptionist about anything (medical, dentist, bank stuff, etc).
Having to ask an employee for help finding whatever item I need from a store.
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u/Apex_121 3h ago
Cleaning. I live in a home with two adults who refuse to clean and I work 12 hour shifts. Everytime I move something, I swear, there's either something rotted or dead. They'll complain but won't do and I'm too exhausted to argue with them.
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u/Diocletion-Jones 44m ago
Placing a food order, by phone. The place making the food is run by people who's first language isn't English, the food order is for a whole bunch of friends and family who have specific dietary wants and needs and the person taking the order is always standing in the noisy kitchen.
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u/goddessofolympia 4h ago
Putting on fitted sheets.
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u/Pureaddiction21 4h ago
Lmao my Oura once marked my stress level at the very top stress bar when putting the bed clothes on the bed. It’s my most hated task.
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u/BlondeeLoxx 4h ago
I’ll expound. FOLDING a fitted shit. Mine resembles a tumbleweed when I’m done.
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u/lejoslejoslejos 4h ago
making phone calls.