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poker_face
Butterfly
Joined: Jun 23, 2008
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:26 am Post subject: Flat affect |
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Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has any experiences to share surronding people's reaction to flat affect. I find that it means that people are less likely to trust me. Anyone have any comments? How do I deal with people who think I am not being honest?
Many thanks
Poker face (this was my parent's nickname for me when I was younger, although they only told me that recently). |
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slowmutant
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 14, 2008
Age: 29
Posts: 6934
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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A flat affect can be very off-putting. People can't be certain of your thought-processes, and because of that they find it hard to trust you.
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wow1000
Hummingbird
Joined: Jul 27, 2008
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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I think it isn't a matter of trust, but rather a matter of not being able to read you. My son gets flat effect and I am always worrying that something is wrong. I don't know how he is feeling or if something is bothering him. Not being able to know what someone is feeling makes people unsure of how to proceed.
Also, people tend to focus on themselves. So sometimes it could be that when they don't get the reaction they expect, they start to focus on why that is. But because they focus on themselves they think things like, did I say something wrong, is he/she reacting to me?
Just my perceptions. |
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Ticker
Come to the Dark Side; we have cookies...
Joined: Aug 26, 2006
Posts: 2346
Location: Cage Free at the moment
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| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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I've never understood the term myself as I had not heard of it before, but assume it means depressed looking in facial features or lacking emotion. The neuropsychologist listed flat effect as one of my diagnoses is how I first learned of the term.
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bangsmccoy
Butterfly
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Joined: Aug 17, 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| I find that a lot of people say that they cannot trust me, or think I'm lying. When I'm just the opposite. I'm very honest and trustworthy. |
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QuantumToast
Blue Jay
Joined: Apr 16, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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I've never heard the term before, but like Ticker I'm assuming it means something like having an unexpressive face - if so, I'm pretty sure I've got it, as people around me often seem to assume that I'm depressed or worried about something.
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Ticker
Come to the Dark Side; we have cookies...
Joined: Aug 26, 2006
Posts: 2346
Location: Cage Free at the moment
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Here's what the Internet says it is and oddly Aspergers nor Autism is mentioned.
"A severe reduction in emotional expressiveness. People with depression and schizophrenia often show flat affect. A person with schizophrenia may not show the signs of normal emotion, perhaps may speak in a monotonous voice, have diminished facial expressions, and appear extremely apathetic. Also known as blunted affect."
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Pook
Snowy Owl
Joined: Aug 07, 2008
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| I believe I have developed a more flat affect as a result of so many problems appearing nervous, flirty or incompetant. It just seems easier to look at others like yeah whatever. |
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QuantumToast
Blue Jay
Joined: Apr 16, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Ticker wrote: | Here's what the Internet says it is and oddly Aspergers nor Autism is mentioned.
"A severe reduction in emotional expressiveness. People with depression and schizophrenia often show flat affect. A person with schizophrenia may not show the signs of normal emotion, perhaps may speak in a monotonous voice, have diminished facial expressions, and appear extremely apathetic. Also known as blunted affect." |
Yep, that's me all right. People seem to assume I'm just laid-back.
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ShawnWilliam
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 1462
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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I have gotten that most of my life.. people are always asking me why i look angry all the time, So i got better and faking it or trying harder not to be flat..
annd ive been told by someone he couldnt read my emotions.. that was depressing |
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i_Am_andaJoy
the dischord in the thrum...
Joined: Sep 28, 2007
Age: 29
Posts: 1172
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Flat affect |
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| poker_face wrote: | How do I deal with people who think I am not being honest?
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if it bothers you, then i would work on it. fake it. practice your facial expressions and affect. maybe take a theater class.
i don't have flat affect all the time, maybe half? and with a couple of people close to me i am able to tell them-- nothing is wrong, i am perfectly fine, i feel happy, i just have flat affect right now. and they can accept that. i have explained that they should believe my words more than my face.
with everyone else, if i care, i make an effort to "play human" and act like i am in a play- overexaggerated. this is very draining, so i don't make an effort all of the time.
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