I've noticed this pattern over the last year or so where I can handle face-to-face conversations fine, but the moment it's a Zoom call or Teams meeting I get this weird knot in my chest beforehand. Even casual video calls with friends stress me out more than hanging out in person. Is this a common thing or am I just weird about it?
I get that same feeling before video calls, that uncomfortable awareness of being watched on screen that doesn't happen in person. It's actually pretty common - you're dealing with a few things at once: that slight delay in video makes natural conversation rhythm harder, you're hyperaware of how you look, and there's nowhere to naturally glance except back at the camera or yourself. In-person you've got way more visual information and natural places to focus your attention, plus the interaction just flows differently. Nothing weird about it, just how our brains handle the particular awkwardness of screens.
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