Wearing sunglasses

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I'm photosensitive, I wear my sunglasses just about anywhere I go. I don't usually wear them at night, but I do wear them when I go into stores or whatever. Daytime, always.

I occasionally even wear them at my computer if it's too dark with the light off and the light's bothering me.

I do take them off when talking to people, sometimes.

I like having sunglasses on because not only are they cool, but they stop people from being able to see your eyes. Therefore, they can't try and "read" them, and you can get away with not looking into theirs.

I only wear them when it's sunny, but when that is the case, I don't take them off when I'm talking to someone, that makes no sense.

I used to feel uncomfortable around people wearing sunglasses because I couldn't see their eyes and I believed they just wanted to "look cool". I felt put-down by them, so I refused to wear sunglasses myself, believing in this way that I was at least being open and honest.

Then I had a complete reversal of viewpoint because I noticed that when I was around people with sunglasses on, I could allow them to look at me without having to respond to that or reveal that I knew they were looking. But I still didn't wear them.

Next I realised that if I wore them, I could look at whoever I wanted to without them having to acknowledge that, and it could actually make them more comfortable if I did wear them, just as it made me more comfortable if they wore them.

But I still didn't wear them, thinking that whatever it was that was bothering me, I should just work through it instead of taking the easy way out by wearing them.

Then I realised that I was wired up differently and couldn't change it just by "trying harder" and that I would just wear myself out using that approach.

In the last couple of days I have gone out with my "kit" on - John Lennon sunglasses and an ipod. I could not believe what a difference it made - it was sheer bliss. Walking down the street on the way to the supermarket or the place I volunteer at was sooooo easy and fun.
I had no idea what a strain it has been for me, not knowing what to do with my eyes while walking anywhere, and it is why I stayed home as much as possible.

I finally feel that I would *like* to go out for a walk, and I know exactly why, and I also know that it isn't my fault and I don't need to fight it.
I even walk with my back straighter.

At the moment I think we may make better progress by not trying. What if you have sunglasses on, and they don't like them, and you take them off, and they don't like your "funny" eyes either? Do you take your eyes off????

My conclusion: some people will like you wearing sunglasses, because it helps *them* relax. There isn't one answer for anything, which is why this whole thing is so darn confusing.

"But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You just can't please everyone
So you better please yourself"

This is funny. I absolutely HATE wearing sunglasses. Maybe because I never know when to put them on, when to take them off, where to keep them while there off, etc. etc.

I understand the advantages of wearing them, because no one can see where you're looking at, but, as it's been said here on WP, in some situations wearing sunglasses is not very well accepted, and therefore I choose not to wear them because I never know which situations are appropriate and which are not.

I have only one pair of sunglasses that I use for driving (and only when the sun light is really bothering me) and that I always keep in the car.

Same, I usually wear it to see everyone's response. They do often think I'm up to something, when I'm definitely not.