How can I gain control of my facial expressions?

Post Reply New Topic

I have a difficult time with expressions as well. I was sitting across the street from where the apt/flat manager's office is waiting for the bus. The assistant came out to make certain I was okay because she thought something was wrong. People often tell me to "smile" or ask if I'm okay too because I don't smile often. I'm not really an unhappy or bitter person either. Some of my family and friends who know me will often say things to get me to smile and laugh.

Occasionally, strangers approach me and ask me if everything is okay. According to people who know me pretty well, my "neutral" facial expression just looks very angry or sad. I think it's mostly that the corners of my mouth turn down, so I look perpetually frowny.

I've wondered in the past whether this issue was a result of poor facial muscle tone. Even when someone makes me aware that my facial expression is inappropriate for the context, I can't seem to alter it without significant effort.

I get asked fairly often whats wrong. I don't usually realize it but I often have a frown or look sad when I'm somewhere with large groups of people. If I go into a busy store, an amusement park or concerts to give a few examples. Sometimes I make odd facial expressions when talking to other people. My girlfriend as well as a few other people have told me.

I guess that's one of the common problems that people with autism or aspergers seems to have but not everyone has that problem.
My girlfriend who is also on the spectrum seems to be fine, she barely has that problem.

My expressions have little relationship with how i might feel. The inner and the outer do not match.
I have one of those grinning, aspie faces, and I have a whole lot of rubbery facial expressions that are all over the place. I frown a lot and people assume i am angry when I am simply thinking or pondering. It's just a pain. People misread me all the time.

As a kid, I did however try to just grin my way through everything and smile. it was pretty sad really.

Maybe you were really upset by the movie and just did not know?

I say that because I have this problem so badly, I hardly speak to anyone outside of a formal situation such as work. I also have the problem that it takes me a long time to work out how I feel, and I think that maybe my face reflects my true feelings. Maybe if I could tell what my face looked like, then I would know how I felt quicker.

One time I was at my husband's parents and his sister put on a film "Kill Bill 2" which is extremely violent and is meant to be a comedy. They were all watching it and I thought I had to sit with them even though I felt uncomfortable with the film. I tried to zone out but later I had a total meltdown and started yelling at my sister in law about something completely different and totally trivial. I think if I knew quite how upset the movie made me feel and said so and went away then I would not have yelled at her about whatever random thing.

Does that make sense?

I had that severely. Everyone thought I was laughing at them or being disrespectful, when actually it was just how I naturally held my face. I'm better at it these days, but I'm told I still have this angry, hunter-like look.

One can practice privately in a room with a mirror, however, some persons do not have voluntary control over their facial muscles, for example, Stallone:

Complications his mother suffered during labor forced her obstetricians to use two pairs of forceps during his birth; misuse of these accidentally severed a nerve and caused paralysis in parts of Stallone's face.[6] As a result, the lower left side of his face is paralyzed, including parts of his lip, tongue, and chin, an accident which has given Stallone his trademark snarling look and slightly slurred speech.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_Stallone

Put tape on your forehead, then you feel yourself frowning.