I'm sorry, could you repeat that?

Sure fire way to begin each new relationship with a healthy slap in the face of anxiety:

Introduce yourself.

You: Hi, I'm so and so. (shake hands)

Them: Hi, I'm John.

You: Nice to meet you, eh...

In my lifetime of introductions, I've never once heard the other person's name. It's such a problem that I find myself staring deeply into their eyes begging my brain to hear, remember and catalogue the information. Alas, my anxiety about receiving the information outweighs my ability to hear it.

It never fails, when I see that guy (John, as he calls himself) at the next venue, his name is nowhere to be recalled, even if he attempts to remind me of our last meeting.

Gotta hand it to introductions, they sure hit the anxiety spot.

PS. There are those people that remember your name, the outfit you wore and the job you said you had. They are not the types to read Foolproof Anxiety, because they are evil.