Peripheral Staring is Not a Deliberate Choice
In previous blogs, I’ve explored the experience of fixating on people’s private regions as part of Visual Tourettic OCD (V-TOCD). Peripheral gazing is a related but distinct feature that often receives less attention, yet it can feel just as distressing. Understanding it is important because many people with V-TOCD experience this automatic, tic-like pull of the eyes toward people or objects at the edge of their vision. It is not a deliberate choice, and recognising it as an involuntary reaction rather than intentional staring can reduce shame and open the door to practical ways of managing it in the moment.
Peripheral gazing is often misunderstood as purposeful staring, but it is an involuntary reaction. A simple example is sitting on a bus and becoming aware of someone nearby. You feel a sudden, uncomfortable pressure to turn and look. When your eyes move, even briefly, it can give the mistaken impression that you are being rude or intrusive. One person I spoke with described how this happened almost every time she sat near strangers on public transport. The urge felt physical, like a magnet pulling her gaze, and the fear of being judged as a “creep” led her to avoid buses and trains altogether. Moments like these show how the tic-like feature can feed avoidance and deepen isolation.
3-Step Competing Technique
You can use various techniques to manage the urge to “stare” in a compassionate manner. One approach involves using a competing response, where a specific physical action is used to overpower the premonitory urge to stare. This method specifically addresses the tic-like feature in V-TOCD rather than the full obsession–compulsion cycle that may accompany it. By interrupting the automatic urge for a few seconds, it can reduce the need for avoidance behaviours driven by fear of offending others or being labelled negatively. This practical skill can be used in real situations when the pull feels overwhelming.
Competing Response
Imagine you are sitting on a bus or train, minding your own business. Suddenly you feel the pulling urge to turn and look when you sense the uncomfortable distraction of people around you. Here’s what you can do:
- Fold your arms and push your hands firmly into your biceps. This tenses the head, neck and shoulders, restricting the movement needed to turn and look.
- Push your hands into your biceps harder. The increased tension competes more intensely with the premonitory urge, making it harder for the eyes to follow the automatic pull.
- Wait a few seconds before relaxing your hands, but keep your arms folded loosely if you can. It can help you apply the competing response more quickly the next time the urge arises.
This competing response is ideal because it is discreet—most people will not notice you are doing anything unusual. Whether you’re travelling by public transport, sitting in a cinema, or socialising, try it and see whether it gives you a useful pause.
By interrupting the tic-like urge in the moment, the competing response can lessen the immediate distress and reduce the likelihood of sliding into longer avoidance or checking behaviours. It does not replace broader treatment for the obsessional and compulsive aspects of V-TOCD, but it can serve as a helpful bridge when the physical pull feels strongest.
If you choose to try this method, pay attention to what happens. Does the urge lessen, even a little? Does it provide you with a sense of choice that you didn’t feel before? Sharing your experiences—what worked, what didn’t, and how the technique felt in various situations—can benefit others facing the same challenge. By combining community support with practical tools, the journey through peripheral staring becomes a little less isolating.
Important medical note
This technique restricts upper-body movement. If you have any muscular, joint, or skeletal problems, please check with your doctor before trying it.
Get more tips to help with peripheral and private staring in my book, Through the Eyes of OCD: Understanding Tourettic Tics and Involuntary Gazing. They are available on Amazon today.
3 responses to “How Folding Your Arms Can Help You Power Through Peripheral Staring”
When at restaurant I only have a slight urge to check the person in my peripheral. I don’t look that often. For me, it’s a constant fight to keep myself from looking down all the time. I tend to look around a lot (at tvs, chairs etc.) and back down at the table or wherever I am. When waiting for a plane I resign myself to looking down at my phone.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I’m curious to know what you fear will happen if you look up rather than stay looking down. For example, are you afraid your eyes will land on an area you try to avoid?
When I look down I don’t see people in my peripherals anymore because my plane of vision is tilted. When looking up I fear people will pop into my peripherals. I have schizophrenia so maybe it’s a bit of delusion that looking at people in my peripherals is staring.