Are you a socially awkward person basically? Do you have social anxiety around in laws?
Feeling uncomfortable in your in-laws presence would for sure unleash a number of hiccups in your everyday life. If you are someone who is challenged by such a situation, this blog will help you.
Do You Have Social Anxiety Around In Laws – 13 Warning Signs!
Have you ever caught yourself growing conscious in front of your in-laws?
Probably your hands would have turned cold; Your palms would have sweated out; Even better you would have nibbled your nails paying too much attention to your tiny movements. Do any of them ring a bell to you?
Be it the time you spend with your in-laws alone OR the times you are with them in addition to a number of people, do you find yourself plagued psychologically?
Do you forget to be yourself?
Don’t worry, the following signs will allow you to ascertain your situation easily. In case you resonate with any of them, you are stuck with social anxiety;Take charge of the situation right away!
1. You Are Not Able To Do Things In Front Of Your In-Laws, You Would Love To Do Otherwise
Suppose you are someone who loves watching cricket.
The T20 season is on but you avoid going to the main hall to watch television just because your in-laws are around. Does it not mean you feel awkward to be around them?
Or let’s say you are sitting on your lawn enjoying a hot cup of morning coffee basking under the Sun rays; Seeing your in-laws coming, you quickly exit the place. Why?
Do you even feel crippled to strike a casual conversation with them?
What does it say about yourself? Do you have social anxiety around in laws?
Also Read: 11 Lesser-Known Compromises Made By Indian Daughters-In-Law
2. You Are Not Able To Take A Stand For Yourself Before Your In-Laws
Let’s say there is a discussion going on between you, your spouse, and your in-laws.
You inform your in-laws that you would be visiting your parents but your in-laws are not happy about it.
Suppose they pass undesirable remarks about your decision and you feel extremely angry inside; The sad part is, you hesitate to take a stand for yourself.
You are not able to handle the situation assertively; Justifying your stance looks harder though you are not wrong in any way.
You choose to be on mute because deep inside you are afraid of being JUDGED by your in-laws.
Does it not mean you are socially anxious in front of your in-laws?
3. You Are Not Able To Converse On Phone In Front Of Your In-Laws
How about your phone ringing when you are having a discussion with your in-laws?
Maybe it is a work-related call OR your parents calling to check on you.
In such a case, do you hesitate to take the call, becoming conscious of your in-laws’ presence?
Even if you do, do you face difficulties talking freely?
If yes, it is not a sign of having social anxiety around your in-laws?
4. You Feel Awkward To Enter The Room Where Your In-Laws Are Sitting
Let’s say you are working in your room and suddenly you realize you are thirsty.
Your water bottle is empty, so you have to go to the kitchen to fetch water.
But you feel odd because your in-laws are sitting in the hall and you have to cross them to get water.
Tell me, isn’t that a clear indicator that you are socially anxious?
High time you challenge yourself and break such roadblocks!
5. Do You Have Social Anxiety Around In Laws – You Do If You Face Difficulty Talking To Your Spouse In Front Of Them!
Isn’t it natural for a wife to talk, open up, and share her suggestions with her spouse wherever required? But what if she goes tongue-tied in front of her in-laws?
Consider the following scenario –
Say your spouse is drinking water quite often while eating; You want to stop him following such a weird practice. But you don’t, growing cautious of your in-laws presence.
Here, do you not think your behaviour signifies social anxiety around your in-laws?
6. You Are Not Able To Cook In The Presence Of Your In-Laws
Say you are someone who requires your own space and time to cook.
Be it chopping vegetables OR preparing a dish, you want to be all by yourself, without your in-laws’ presence or intervention; For in their company, you fear being judged by them.
Shouldn’t such an attitude be attributed to self-doubting?
Does it not indicate that you are socially anxious around your in-laws?
7. You Feel Uncomfortable Eating With Your In-laws
Every time you sit to have your lunch OR dinner with your in-laws, do you feel strange?
Would you hesitate to ask for extra food?
Would you feel being watched all the time?
If yes, do you have social anxiety around in laws – Of course, you do! High time you understand and handle such situations effectively!
Also Read: 18 Overlooked Problems Of Daughters-In-Law
8. You Are Not Able To Shop Properly In Front Of Your In-Laws
Let’s say you are someone who takes a lot of time to shop clothes; You are choosy by nature.
But while shopping with your in-laws, you hurry up and try to finish your shopping as quickly as possible. You pick some random stuff and rush the billing as well.
You are intent on cutting short your shopping expedition because you are not comfortable around your in-laws.
Doesn’t that point out that you are socially phobic in the presence of your in-laws?
9. You Refrain From Offering Suggestions To Your In-Laws
Say there is a family discussion going on around your sister-in-laws’ wedding; but you withhold yourself from sharing your opinions.
You wonder, “What if my in-laws look down at my ideas?”
“What if they humiliate me?”
In that case, even if your suggestion is worth a million-dollars, it would go to the bin straight because you cling on to your inhibition of being judged; Of being humiliated.
Does it not prove that you are a socially sensitive person?
10. You Feel Uneasy Spending Time With Your In-Laws
Assuming your spouse is out on work and being a Sunday, you are encased with your in-laws in the house.
You don’t have any work to do, and your in-laws come to your room to spend some time with you.
In that case, if you feel like disappearing into the air and make plans desperately in your head to escape the situation somehow, it says a lot about your social anxiety.
Don’t worry, your condition isn’t uncommon, you could successfully overcome such situations!
11. You Are Not Comfortable About Your Relatives Visiting Home When Your In-Laws Are Around
Suppose your uncle and aunt visit you all of a sudden; you are feeling all insecure.
You fear what they will discuss with your in-laws. OR what the latter would talk to them!
Does that not mean you are socially anxious?
I have written a Complete Guide To Tackling Insensitive Relatives After Marriage. You might find it helpful.
12. You Feel Discomfited When You Attend Family Gatherings With Your In-Laws
Let’s say you are attending your cousin’s marriage with your in-laws and find yourself trapped in your relatives’ group.
Considering your insensitive relatives posing a lot of questions to you in front of your in-laws, you choke, unable to tackle the situation wisely.
Such are clear indicators that you are socially anxious around your in-laws!
13. You Feel Uncomfortable Talking To Others In Front Of Your In-Laws
Say you are a good bargainer and negotiator as well!
On one of the occasions, while travelling with your in-laws, you notice the auto driver charging exorbitant fares.
Your usual-self that struggles hard to lash out at the auto-driver for charging high, is silenced by the consciousness of your in-laws’ presence.
You don’t utter a word hence and allow your in-laws to pay the driver fearing that you will be judged by the latter.
Such is a sure sign that you are a socially phobic person – So better take charge of the situation straight away!
Dear DIL, Grow Outward and Stay Yourself, You Have Nothing to Lose!
By now, you would have understood the fact that Social Anxiety for sure is a mind disorder.
To overcome this problem, fight those inner-blocks like fear and inhibitions and grow outward with your surroundings.
That way you turn into a more mindful, good, and confident human being.
If you have any questions OR thoughts to share on this, please post them in the comments section below. I would be glad to address them!
Also, if you think this will benefit other daughters-in-law out there, feel free to share them in your circles!