Opening up a bit

How come I feel as if people are afraid of me. Whenever I go around someone, or a group of people they all become quiet. And I sense a sort of strained, superficial quality of air and presence when they do manage to say something to me. They're faking it. Either they're doing that or they're treating me as if I were some mentally unstable retarded person. And even though faking it may seem better than being looked down upon by your peers. It isn't. It REALLY isn't. It sort of feels the same. To be rejected by your peers and your so called "community" can be very hurtful to a someone...