Reasons why you don't like eye contact

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find eye contact embarrassing unless I know the person/people well. It make sme feel flustered and I start blushing. Also, I have never understood why people say that you can see someone's soul in their eyes, becuase i never can. I just see their eyes.

1. I spent half my childhood constantly being told to 'stop staring' so grew up believing eye contact was wrong.
2. I just can't do it - I try but out of reflex automatically look elsewhere immediately.

If someone is trying to make eye contact and I feel uncomfortable I just look them right between the eyes. Peolpe dont notice and I can relax and consentrate on the conversation

Eyes move too quickly, so I panic every time I look in someone's eyes.

Eyes hurt you, especially when looking someone in the eye, you need to blink to calm yourself.

Eyes "shoot daggers", so they go right into mine.

As a kid and a teenager, everyone stared at me and I would panic becasue it's WAY too much to process.

The only person I've made eye contact to on a daily basis is my girlfriend.

It's a combination of an inability to concentrate while trying to look at someone and talk at the same time (I can't even look at the person in general, never mind their eyes, I have to look at something stationary when I talk) and a sort of instant of physical stabbing pain if I unexpectedly meet someone's eyes or feel like I have to look into them for some reason. I can look at peoples' mouths when they're talking, and that usually successfully mimics eye contact, but actually looking into peoples' eyes for any reason is very uncomfortable; I don't even like looking at the eyes of people on TV.

I feel like I'm staring at the person and that my eye contact etiquette is all wrong and I'm making them uncomfortable.

It's intense and uncomfortable. But that aside, I don't really even think of making eye contact under normal circumstances.

Soul rape is the perfect description, I can easily make eye contact with people I can fully trust.

i've learned to stare at a point on their face to pretend eye contact. that, and smiling, and nodding seem to get me through most social contacts. i hate looking people in the eye.

1. it feels too private.
2. makes me anxious - am i staring too much and seem creepy? am i not making enough contact and seem "shifty"?
3. faces just don't seem that interesting. i don't mind watching someone's hair or clothing.
4. it's difficult enough to process what someone is saying and then be able to translate my thoughts into words. i don't need added stresses and distractions.
5. this was a big issue when i was a child. i think this has actually caused me increased anxiety around it and probably some resentment.

Soul rape is a pretty interesting description.
When I accidentally make eye contact, I do feel violated. The blackness of the pupils remind me of a deep well where something dangerous lurks. Just resting and waiting.
Eye contact also just makes my stomach twist and makes me feel like I want to vomit.

The main reason I don't like to make eye contact is because I used to stare at other people when I was younger and they would say, "What? You've got an eye problem?" and then I would say "No.", and then they would say, "Well then don't look at me!" It was mostly kids who said these things to me, but I'm still uncomfortable with making eye contact to this day.

It feels like something collapses in my stomach, and then it churns.
I can't focus on what the other person is saying, and I'm unable to formulate a response.
I feel exposed (not like they can see into my brain as some have said, more like a deer in head lights, trapped).
I start sweating.
It triggers fight or flight.
It makes me extremely uncomfortable.
It feels unnatural.

I rarely have the (natural) urge to make eye contact, the vast majority of the time it is a (nurtured) response. I'm actually quite good at multi-tasking but making and keeping eye contact, literally, seems to take all of my focus and leaves me basically incoherent. It simply causes me distress.

When two people establish eye contact, it generally means they have added another layer of communication that supersedes speaking and body language. You smile with the eyes. You also lie. It implies interest and understanding and comfort, or intimidation. For people who do not like such closeness, whether positive or negative, it's uncomfortable.

It's just very awkward really. I tend to focus too much on it (which makes me stop listening) and it just feels scary to me. But i'm trying to learn how to make it less terrible hahah!