Is it normal to not make eye contact when talking to someone?

When I'm talking to other people, I have a bad habit of looking at the wall and/or looking down when talking to them. I guess it's because I get EXTREMELY nervous from prolong eye contact with another human. It just...feels weird, ya know?

For example, I was at a coffee shop the other day and as the cashier asked me what I wanted, I was looking down the whole time while ordering my coffee. Although the cashier didn't seem to mind at all and was quite friendly towards me.

Is this considered rude behavior? Is it a tad strange? As a person with social anxiety, I've always had problems with eye contact. In fact, I get nervous when people look at me. Even during childhood, my mom said that I would cry when people looked at me. Now I'm all grown up and still have this problem!

Voting Results
77% Normal
Based on 31 votes (24 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • snarkygirl

    I am like this. I can't do eye contact maybe cause I think most people are evil.

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  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk

    wear dark glasses

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  • hahahappy

    i thought i'm the only one but after reading this i dont feel alone anymore!! :D
    when people talk to me, they always ended up having bad impressioon of me. which i dont like it because it is not a correct judgement.
    when i talk to people, i tend to look at their, clothes,ears,hand,feet,background but not eyes. idk why. but if i were to do it, i will find it awkward? weird? too intimating?
    i really dk how to descriibe this.
    people tend to ask me: hey, i'm talking to you, why are you looking some where else?
    i would feel sorry, because i couldnt do it.i could speak to them confidently but eye contact seems tough for me.

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  • Goku19

    Not normal! Practice eye contacts at home and get over it.

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    • hahahappy

      easier said than done.

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