Hi there,

Everyone deserves to feel confident and comfortable in the way they move through the world. It’s natural that some young people do feel anxious using them in public when people stare, make comments, or ask intrusive questions. It’s understandable that this would affect your confidence and social anxiety, and you shouldn’t have to cope alone.

There’s no right or wrong way to handle unwanted attention, and it’s okay to decide you don’t want to answer any questions. Being assertive and setting boundaries about what you’re comfortable sharing can help. You could practise short, confident responses like “I’d rather not talk about that” or “that’s personal”, or even just ignoring questions altogether if they feel nosy or rude. Remember, if someone stares or makes a comment then that’s them doing something wrong, not you.

If being in public feels overwhelming, some people can find it helpful to wear headphones as a way of showing you don’t want to talk. Over time, many people find they care less about what strangers think, because those people don’t know your story and they don’t get to decide your worth. Remember, if someone says or does something that makes you uncomfortable then it’s always okay to talk to an adult you trust.

Take care,

Sam