I have this thing with loving to go barefoot. Yet I find myself to be very embarrassed to go barefooted around others, especially at home in front of family. I have a deep desire to do so however. Does anyone have any similar experience? Or does anyone know about this and how I might overcome it? I can give more details. I have a thread in the Barefoot group that may be helpful for you to read to get more insight into this difficulty of mine. Thanks in advance for your help.
I went thru a long modest stage as a kid-from about age 8-18 when i'd never take my socks off-it was an insecurity thing-my folks fought, we moved alot-i even slept fully dressed-then i got a roomie I kinda worshipped who went bf everywhere and that inspired me-in the decade and a half since i've been bf about 75% of the time, inside, outside and in front of anyone who happens to be around. It's brought much peace of mind.
the more you do it, the less awkward it'll feel. remember how much healthier your feet are outside shoes and it feels so much better. after 20 years my mom still has something to say about it.
i've always felt initimidated by going barefoot b/c there were times as a child when I would have gotten spanked or smacked if I did and when iwas a little older i got punished once by getting a switch taken to my feet i dont need to tell you the pain invovled there, i'm not embarrased by going barefoot just terrified of being hurt by it cause of past events. i'm actually shivering and having a hard time breathing just trying to type this cause its like reliving a really bad event i've been hanging out in the barefoot forum not b/c i'm interested in it as a practice i just want to overcome some fears but we all seem to be on this thread for the same thing, getting advice on overcoming the same anxiety even though it may be for different resons with different people for me its overcoming the fear 1st and dealing with any embarrasment later but thats a bridge i won't have to cross for a while cause i need to cross some others 1st
Angel, It is so good to hear your story! It is really a traumatic one. I can imagine how it hurt when your barefeet were struck. And how humiliating it might have been by getting spanked if you were barefoot. Thanks for writing, even though it was hard for you. You are beginning a journey. You will make progress, you will go forward, you will go backward. You will doubt whether this is something you even what to do at all. I know because it is the same way with me and my situation. I've been embarrassed about going barefoot for years. Even in my own apartment far away from anyone. I want to tell you I got over that. And I'm working on going barefoot at home with family. They don't know yet but I've been taking off my shoes and socks in my room each night after they go to sleep. Getting yourself to do something in a comfortable setting is best. Even if it is just talking about it in these forums. When I was first trying to go barefoot, sometimes just reading the word barefoot in the dictionary helped. Or saying it quietly. There is so much we can help each other with. As I write this to you, I am barefoot at home in my room. My family is asleep and it isn't really bothering me to much. If someone would come in, my feet are hidden under my desk and the lights are out. I need to start working on going barefoot with some lights on. I've been able to walk out in the rest of the house barefoot. I'm hidden in the dark. But Just couple of weeks ago, doing this was way out of the question. It has only been by people who were and are supportive of me that I can do it. It is a constant progression and I see myself making progress quite well. Hope to be a big help to you Angel. We can help each other! Mike
I feel your pain Mike, I cant say I needed darkness to feel comfortable but I always had to make sure nobody was around. I did make some progress today. It was very warm outdside and I walked out into the front yard in my barefeet. It was unnerving the whole time I was thinking "the neighbors are watching, the neighbors are watching" but nobody was around and it was kind of nice to feel the grass under my feet. It is a progression and I think we will make progress pretty well
Angel, It really DOES feel good to share and know that others are in the same boat. I know exactly what you felt like today, in the yard, barefoot. It seemed as though everyone and anyone not only was able to see you barefooted but that they WERE looking at you barefooted. Even if they saw only your face, it seemed as though they could just see you barefoot by looking in your eyes. Oh I know the feeling well. If you do it more often, it gets easier. I can say that from experience. But I still can't do it around my family. At least not in front of them. Now, thanks to friends, I've been able to go barefoot in the same house. Mainly when they are sleeping. Now I'm curious how you might feel if someone like you (for example me) were to be with you while you were barefoot and barefoot too. Would it be easier to deal with if you knew that person had a similar nervousness and anxiety? Sort of like group therapy. Well, I'm here at home waiting for my family to go to sleep. Then I'll be taking off my shoes and socks. They are still talking like they did on the Walton's. Lights off, all in bed but still talking. Oh I hate that! lol
Woah. I don't like feet in my face, but can't say I've ever been scared to walk around barefoot. Or been freaked by others doing it. Good luck to you guys, though. Hope you make tons of progress.
I walked onto the front porch today in my socks. I admit its not barefoot so my seem like a step backward as far as making progress but the point i'm trying to make is i wasnt nervous about it. going outside without shoes usually makes me nervous and that didnt happen today so I'm going to call that a step in the right direction.
Yes, I think that is definitely a step in the right direction. For the last 7 weeks, I've been coming into my room after all are asleep and taking off my shoes and socks and going barefoot for a while. That is progresss too. I wish I could just walk out there barefoot. If only I had some more encouragement!! Mike
seems like youre making good progress too Mike. i don't know what kind of encouragement i can give except to say embrace the fear and go for it!!! I only wish i could take my own advice sometimes lol
trust me, my feet are ugly as fuck. i go bear-foot. start by going bare foot around your house first...alone. trust me, nobody really gives a shit about your feet, except you. you have to completely understand this. wear socks if you just can't over come this. then after that where little toe socks, leaving you main foot bare. then, like playing 'this little piggy' take one toe sock off at a time. starting with the pinky toe. baby steps.... sounds like ocd or something. i hope this helps.
I'm going barefoot in my room and my room door is open. Have been doing it for over an hour and a half. It is progress!!
Well, I came home, came into my room with my door open and my light on in my room. I was in the computer room. I took off my shoes one at a time, took off my socks, and put my shoes back on. Then I went to the bathroom with shoes on but no socks on. I took them off there one at a time and made sure that my feet were free of the lint from the socks. Then I came back to my room, turned out my light, came into the computer room and took off my shoes. My socks are in the hamper. So I'm barefoot with my door open and my room light off. It feels a little weird. I will be getting up to go close the door and then will probably go barefoot for a little more. It would be fun to see if I can walk out of my room a little since it is all dark out there for the most part. But I'm not sure how that will work out. Again, no one is here to talk to me about it. I might try to find someone to chat with. Of course, I am WAY further ahead than I was 8 weeks ago. It has been that long that I've been going barefoot in my room at night. I've made little steps of progress. Still not ready to be seen or to bring up the idea of trying to go barefoot. Maybe that will come with time. At least my door is open and I'm barefooted. That is a small accomplishment. I went into Walmart tonight and saw they have lots of flip flops for sale. They look like ones that men would wear. Not fancy but nothing that women would wear.........Had beer brands on them where your sole would rest. I was with my friend that I go out to eat with. I wanted to try to get them but was afraid. It would be cool to wear them into bars and restaurants when we go out to eat. Just now, I sort of lost the realization I was barefoot. I forgot my door was open and was just sitting here typing. Guess I got distracted. That is good. I wish I could get distracted completely! But I don't seem to be able to do that yet. It feels good to be barefoot. Before I was barefoot, it seemed funny to have shoes on at the computer. I think I'm getting used to the feeling of when I'm at the computer, I am barefoot. It might be starting to sink in as something that is associated. Of course, on Sunday evenings, I wear shoes and socks here until they go to bed. Don't have the courage to try to be barefoot when they are still awake. I do want to try and see if I can walk out to my room (which is dark) barefooted. I mght even see if I can walk a little into the dining room. Let me give it a try! OK, I was able to walk to the table. I was shielded from view by the table, yet I could see my mother lying there asleep. A bit scary to do. I came back, leaving the door open. I'm able to feel a little protected by being hidden in the dark with the reasonable assurance no one will come in at this time since they are asleep. That little bit of doubt makes me nervous. It as if I can feel my blood pressure rise when I think of it. Well, I'll send this off. I'll send it to my other barefoot support group members too, although, I've not been getting much response as of lately. Hope you are having a good weekend. Mike
sup mic. 1. how do you feel in your own skin with your shoes on? 2. that's great that you went barefoot in your own house. though be it that it was alone...in the dark...in the wee hours of the night and while the house was fast asleep. still great job. 3. how do you feel about going bare foot around complete strangers? practice by going to a beach. everyone is essentially barefoot. you'd fit right in. 4. thats good your recognized you need distractions to go bare. how about using your ipod next time you get up and walk about...try with the lights on next. 5. take pictures of your feet and present them to your family. that way they can see your feet in pictures and you can feel good because you can wear your shoes to do this. this is good because once they see your feet you will immediately feel good about there lack of reaction. you will probably think a little different about going nude foot. 6. in the summer, in an act of impulse, throw away every single pair of shoes you own. you'll have no choice but to walk nude foot.
sup mic. 1. how do you feel in your own skin with your shoes on? It is ok to feel the shoes against my skin. A bit warm. It is better being barefooted or wearing socks with my shoes. 2. that's great that you went barefoot in your own house. though be it that it was alone...in the dark...in the wee hours of the night and while the house was fast asleep. still great job. Thank you. That is a big step for me. I hope I can keep going. All the encouragement from others helps so much! 3. how do you feel about going bare foot around complete strangers? practice by going to a beach. everyone is essentially barefoot. you'd fit right in. I am ok. I want to get some flip flops and wear them when I go out to eat with my one friend. It would make going more barefoot seem easier. And I could even slip off the flip flops under the table or bar. 4. thats good your recognized you need distractions to go bare. how about using your ipod next time you get up and walk about...try with the lights on next. Someone else mentioned the ipod. I don't have one. Not sure if that would be enough of a distraction. I'm pretty aware of being barefoot. That's what makes it so fun! 5. take pictures of your feet and present them to your family. that way they can see your feet in pictures and you can feel good because you can wear your shoes to do this. The thing is this: I am embarrassed about letting them even know the idea of me going barefoot at this time. I want to overcome it. It is getting easier to to in secret and I'm letting my guard down a bit as time goes on. But not quite to breaking through all the way yet. this is good because once they see your feet you will immediately feel good about there lack of reaction. you will probably think a little different about going nude foot. If I could get to that point, it would be wonderful!!!!! 6. in the summer, in an act of impulse, throw away every single pair of shoes you own. you'll have no choice but to walk nude foot. That is too big of a thing to do. What would I wear to work, church, bike riding, etc? But there have been those who have done it. Maybe the suggestion is a way to stretch the bubble to make me try less serious things!
