How to Stop yourself from Staring
"Oh My God, look at that girl. Her nose is larger than my fist."
That was what my friend said when we happened to see a girl on our way to college today.
Instinctively, I followed my friend's finger and saw a pre-pubertal child who stood by the entrance of a shopping complex.
She had grotesque muscle in place of the nose; the flesh slumped down so much that it covered her upper lip. Eyes smaller than the standard size were pushed sidewards by the growing tissues of her nose. I wondered where her nostrils were, for I couldn't see how she was breathing.
It was after I obtained these details that it hit me that I was staring at that little girl.
I looked away, ashamed.
It's human nature to stare at anything that looks abnormal to us. And if it's a person with facial disfigurement, we don't just stop there staring. We'll fling our mouth open, make an insensitive comment or nudge a friend to share the comfort we are reeling from making the other person uncomfortable.
I bet, many of you secretly wish to stop this sickening habit (if you do not, feel free to add this wish to your bucket list).
The urge to stare at something unusual starts not by insensitivity but by instinct. It's our brain, and specifically speaking, the amygdala; set of neurons situated in the brain's temporal lobe.
Amygdala freezes when it fails to process an image or a face it hasn't encountered previously. So, we overlook how our gaze turns into a cold stare, even before we realise the extent of repercussions it has caused.
Though, scientists, say it doesn't take a genius to regain composure during these moments.
All it requires is some conscious effort.
The same conscious effort you put while checking facebook to check how many likes you've received, ordering a small salad with a large upsized junk meal, and posing for a selfie.
All you've got to do is regain control of your brain. Here's a step-by-step guide on How to Stop yourself from Staring (aka highjacking the amygdala):
1. Become adept at observing yourself, your outer body movements, and your behaviour.
2. Think about how it'd annoy you if you were being stared at.
3. Pinch yourself to distract your mind from the urge to stare.
4. If you happen to make eye contact, stretch your lips into a compassionate smile.
5. Look away, possibly at your feet, and get moving.
If all fails, start wearing tinted glasses no matter where you go.
That was what my friend said when we happened to see a girl on our way to college today.
Instinctively, I followed my friend's finger and saw a pre-pubertal child who stood by the entrance of a shopping complex.
She had grotesque muscle in place of the nose; the flesh slumped down so much that it covered her upper lip. Eyes smaller than the standard size were pushed sidewards by the growing tissues of her nose. I wondered where her nostrils were, for I couldn't see how she was breathing.
It was after I obtained these details that it hit me that I was staring at that little girl.
I looked away, ashamed.
It's human nature to stare at anything that looks abnormal to us. And if it's a person with facial disfigurement, we don't just stop there staring. We'll fling our mouth open, make an insensitive comment or nudge a friend to share the comfort we are reeling from making the other person uncomfortable.
I bet, many of you secretly wish to stop this sickening habit (if you do not, feel free to add this wish to your bucket list).
The urge to stare at something unusual starts not by insensitivity but by instinct. It's our brain, and specifically speaking, the amygdala; set of neurons situated in the brain's temporal lobe.
Amygdala freezes when it fails to process an image or a face it hasn't encountered previously. So, we overlook how our gaze turns into a cold stare, even before we realise the extent of repercussions it has caused.
Though, scientists, say it doesn't take a genius to regain composure during these moments.
All it requires is some conscious effort.
The same conscious effort you put while checking facebook to check how many likes you've received, ordering a small salad with a large upsized junk meal, and posing for a selfie.
All you've got to do is regain control of your brain. Here's a step-by-step guide on How to Stop yourself from Staring (aka highjacking the amygdala):
1. Become adept at observing yourself, your outer body movements, and your behaviour.
2. Think about how it'd annoy you if you were being stared at.
3. Pinch yourself to distract your mind from the urge to stare.
4. If you happen to make eye contact, stretch your lips into a compassionate smile.
5. Look away, possibly at your feet, and get moving.
If all fails, start wearing tinted glasses no matter where you go.
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