• Feeling isolated? You're not alone.

    Join 20,000+ people who understand exactly how your day went. Whether you're newly diagnosed, self-identified, or supporting someone you love – this is a space where you don't have to explain yourself.

    Join the Conversation → It's free, anonymous, and supportive.

    As a member, you'll get:

    • A community that actually gets it – no judgment, no explanations needed
    • Private forums for sensitive topics (hidden from search engines)
    • Real-time chat with others who share your experiences
    • Your own blog to document your journey

    You've found your people. Create your free account

Say Cheese!

It should probably be noted that the only reason I can produce a natural smile is because I was involved in theater in high school. I was never much good, but I did learn a lot about the technicalities of facial expression, voice, and body language from it. In fact I think every Aspie with issues in these areas would do well to take some acting classes. They give technical information on how to accurately mimic (and thus read) all kinds of non verbal expression.

With smiling, what I do is think intensely of something that makes me happy and try to replicate the emotion. Then I feel ready, I start smiling and take a series of pictures. Then I go through them for the best shot.
 
As a child I could smile occasionally. As an adult, it feels totally unnatural for whatever reason.

For all the facial muscles I have to do it with, the slightest movements make me feel positively weird. o_O
 
rollerskate said:
It should probably be noted that the only reason I can produce a natural smile is because I was involved in theater in high school. I was never much good, but I did learn a lot about the technicalities of facial expression, voice, and body language from it. In fact I think every Aspie with issues in these areas would do well to take some acting classes. They give technical information on how to accurately mimic (and thus read) all kinds of non verbal expression.
Click to expand...

That's a really good idea. Since for many aspies, we go by what is learned over what is natural.

When I was a kid, my dad always said I needed to take a Dale Carnegie course so I could learn how to talk with people. I never looked into it though.
 
tlc said:
That's a really good idea. Since for many aspies, we go by what is learned over what is natural.

When I was a kid, my dad always said I needed to take a Dale Carnegie course so I could learn how to talk with people. I never looked into it though.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it didn't come overnight either. Lots and lots of practice in front of a mirror, not just with that but a lot of different expressions. And there's a lot I still can't pull off successfully. Like looking angry. The closest I can get is just a blank, cold stare... Which is pretty scary on its own, but kind of gives a more psycho I'm about to eat your brains effect than intended, LOL. But hey, at least it makes my son get his act straight, LOL.
 
Turk said:
They dont call me Derek Zoolander for nothing, when the camera comes out. Unfortunately, while trying to escape the lens, and in true Aspie fashion, I dont know which way to run and usually end up colliding with something. The end result is, the Magnum look crossed with a hint of, Deer in headlight.
Click to expand...

Don't care for most Stiller movies, but "Envy" and "Zoolander", I love.

Magnum!

And, another awkward smiler here.
 
rollerskate said:
Yeah, it didn't come overnight either. Lots and lots of practice in front of a mirror, not just with that but a lot of different expressions. And there's a lot I still can't pull off successfully. Like looking angry. The closest I can get is just a blank, cold stare... Which is pretty scary on its own, but kind of gives a more psycho I'm about to eat your brains effect than intended, LOL. But hey, at least it makes my son get his act straight, LOL.
Click to expand...
Ah yes, the Cold Stare really came in handy for me in high school. If someone was annoying me, all I had to do was straighten out my face while talking to them and they'd just reel in terror, haha.
I try to practice faces in the mirror but I can only stare at my own face for so long before it makes me really uncomfortable. There are days I just can't handle looking at my own reflection. Not because I think I look all that bad, but to me there's just something eerie about looking at oneself for reasons beyond grooming and checking appearance.
 
I am also find it differcult having my photo taken because of my smile. I am self conscious of it, poor condition of my teeth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Top Bottom