The trigger for the anxiety is the unknown danger that approaches with no regard for your choice. This is most definitely the case. When I'm approaching them I already know what the interaction is about and how long it will take. That is significantly reducing my mental load in those situations.
Thank you for your comprehensive answer! This is really helpful. I really need to work on setting some boundaries and sticking to them. It is also nice to know that I'm not alone with those issues. Would you mind sharing what kind of professional help you sought?
Recognizing the intentions of others
I hardly recognize the intentions of other people. I often realize too late when people want to take advantage of me or are not well-disposed towards me.
Because of this, I learned to perceive strangers as a danger which is causing me anxiety and stress. This is especially an issue when strangers are approaching me. For some reason I don’t have much issues to approach others myself.
I’m not sure how much of this is related to my autism. Can someone relate to this? Is there anything I can do about this?