Face reaction

[josephselvan1981]

I have been repeatedly informed by my colleagues that I am always having a smiling face. I thought it is a good sign when in group. But when one of my colleague said that, you should not always smile and you should speak out and react something, I realized that I am having a problem with "my smiling face" when in a group. I am not used to be like that when I am alone. Can someone help me to identify the route cause of the problem and suggestions to rectify it?

[josephselvan1981]

What you said seems to be correct for me as well, as my colleagues call me as "smiling face". I perceive I am having social anxiety and I am actually smiling involuntarily and I don't know until someone says, it seems to hide my feelings or in activeness or something else.

[29sillygirl]

Right.

[mammo]

If a therapist has to see you looking sad, and not smiling in order to help you....run for the door.  They tell much more by your words and actions.  I always smile around people, not because I'm not depressed or sad, but to not have others ask " what is wrong," and as a way to help myself and others. I agree, if you enjoy smiling, do it.

[29sillygirl]

I smile alot too.  It is a kind of trademark for me now.

Two things I've learned.  Hope they help.

1) A smile can be a way to distance yourself from real feelings; a social habit.

A therapist caught me on this ages ago.  He said when depressed it is seriously harmful to smilel when checking in with doctor.  It is a lie.  Doctors and other gauge our well being by facial expressions. Can't help if you don't express real feelings.

2) Another therapist said a big smile can make you feel better.  You are faking it until you make it.  

I've suffered from depression and social anxiety. So take my advice for what it is.  Reflections from my experience of battling depression.

If you don't feel it is a problem.  Don't worry about it.

[mammo]

Good for you!  A smile goes along way in making you and others feel better.  It sounds like it's making your friends uncomfortable, which is their problem, not yours.

[Julie359]

So what your saying that when in a group of people you continously have a smile on your face and are quite and withdrawn?  Well, to be honest if this isn't a problem for you, apart from your friends constantly telling you i wouldn't worry about it....

When i am nervous, i laugh.... i realise that this can be anoying as i laugh when it's not funny and also after almost every sentence in my conversation, but i think to be honest if they dont like it then stuff it.... normally once i relax and get to know the person or group of people it stops and i'm sure this will be the same with yourself.

You are who you are, and if it bothers the people who you hang out with that much then maybe you should start looking for other peps to be mates with......x

[josephselvan1981]

As I said earlier, I am having a smiling face when in a group. It seems that, I am hiding my inability to have free talk with others or my uncomfortableness or some other reason I dont know exactly. Some one tell me, how to overcome from this problem?