Does ur neutral face look angry?

[WhimsicalInWV]

Yeah that's me. I'll be sitting there relaxed and someone will say 'what are you pissed off about' didn't know I was. I give my brothers the evil eye alot when I'm angry at them. The trouble is now the muscles above my eyebrows are in a permenant V. It's had to explain. But even when I'm relaxed I'm frowning, actually have frown lines.

[deeds14]

Yeah, people are always asking me what's wrong with me and I never know what they're talking about.

[Aleforge]

Yes, I look angry all the time. Always have in every situation. I also know it gives people the wrong impression but its really hard to stop. I developed it years ago as a defense mechanism to keep people from talking to me that I didn't know. I lately have been trying to project myself differently.

[JS86]

I used to get the "what's wrong" query a lot, but very rarely get it nowadays. Over the years I have somehow tried to adjust the neutral expression on my face so I am not conveying emotions which I do not hold. I suppose I did it over a period of time by becoming aware of how my face was particularly contorted - for example, particular parts of the face would be strained without me even realising beforehand - and then endeavoured to change that expression on the spot to something less straining.

I probably do still put on a face from time to time that puts other people off - I do not know anyone who would tell me about things like that - but at least I do not get pity or anything like that now.

[radames]

Originally Posted by JS86

I used to get the "what's wrong" query a lot, but very rarely get it nowadays. Over the years I have somehow tried to adjust the neutral expression on my face so I am not conveying emotions which I do not hold. I suppose I did it over a period of time by becoming aware of how my face was particularly contorted - for example, particular parts of the face would be strained without me even realising beforehand - and then endeavoured to change that expression on the spot to something less straining.

I probably do still put on a face from time to time that puts other people off - I do not know anyone who would tell me about things like that - but at least I do not get pity or anything like that now.

I am too intimidating for people to ask me "what's wrong?" Usually its, "wow there is a big, angry looking black guy walking towards me. Ahhhhh!"

[Koschei]

People tell me I look angry and threatening.

[cosmikdebris]

I had a g/f who once told me i had an angry looking face. It must be my eyebrows

[Lesley]

[QUOTE=Skeeter;976658]Yeah, and a big part of it is my eyes.

I have strabismus (crosseye) and I've had many surgeries to try to correct it. Cosmetically I don't look TOO bad, but unfortunately the doctors were never able to fine-tune my eyes so that they see things as they should. I have double vision if I try to look though both eyes at the same time, like normal people do. Further, those images are misaligned. One is higher than the other like 2 cameras that are not quite pointing at the same spot ("divergent"). At this point, there is no correction for my degree of divergence given my surgical history. But if I were a child now and just beginning treatment, there would be tons of options. The technology just wasn't there 40 years ago like it is today.

So, I unconsciously adapted to using only one eye at a time, and quickly shifting back and forth in order to simulate normal stereoscopic vision and depth perception. The big problem is that the divergent eye (my right) is very sensitive to bright glaring light, and I squint-- but only that eye. The left eye (the straighter one) isn't so bad unless I look sharply right-- then that one squints to block out confusing double images. I see just fine in terms of visual acuity (20/20). I just see 2 of everything. Thus, I often look angry because I'm squinting and my face might be somewhat "squoonched" because I'm trying to process what I'm seeing.

The thing is, the times when I'm squoonched up are the times when I'm most intently "focused" (literally and figuratively) on the person or thing that's in front of me... those are the times when you have me so enraptured in your story, or attentive to what you're saying. People take that the wrong way and they think I'm stonewalling or getting angry or something. I think it also sort of repels people, because they see my unintended facial expression and they don't understand that it's because of a vision "problem".

i have the same problem, i think.
my eyes tense up when im anxious and they look funny.
the amount i get laughed at and get bad looks from it is rediculous, it sucks too, cause otherwise... i am a pretty girl.
it's sorta brutal somedays.

[TaniaN]

Originally Posted by pupper

yes! I'm glad I'm not the only one, at least once a week a complete stranger will say "smile, it's not that bad", "you know it's not against the law to smile", or "what's wrong?!". It always happens when I least expect it to (buying something at the mall, eating a meal, talking to a customer at work) and it just makes me sad because I think I'm having a good time going about my business while the rest of the world is thinking "why is that girl so angry?!".

DITTO! This thread makes me feel so much better. Is this SA related then since we all seem to have this problem? There have been times when I am seriously smiling for a picture and then I look at it and I look like I want to hurt someone

[Dryslyd]

My neutral face looks like I'm really sad and fed up, people are always telling me to smile (this is since childhood!), so it really winds me up!
So, I have my anxiety face: complete and utter horror, rabbit in your headlights 'type'.
My neutral face: as above.....fed up, sad looking
My smile: Huge mouth, big teeth, grin......it's painful to keep it going for any length of time!
My standard answer when someone says "smile" is to give them my one and only smile, huge mouth, big teeth (it's almost a psychotic grin when I'm forced to do it, so that shuts people up generally!)
There's no halfway 'point' on some people it's either a big smile/grin or a neutral angry/fed up face. But some people don't get that! !

[Hot Chocolate]

Originally Posted by Holly Short

I don't look angry; I just look sad and lost. People are always asking me what the matter is, and saying I look confused.

Haha, same

[Cataclysm Ballet]

I always thought it was just me. I'm middle eastern (technically, I'm Indian but I'm of Islamic descent) and people think I'm always pissed off even when I'm not. Part of it is because I hear people say that people from the middle east always look mad. Admittedly, I am angrier than most people but I don't think it permeates my entire existence. I feel like if I'm not smiling, I look intimidating by default. It's really frustrating because I've only become aware of it recently. When I talk to people now, I use a lot of inflection in my voice because I have to go out of my way to appear harmless to people.

It just sucks because it doesn't feel natural. People are so quick to assume that I'm thinking mean things about them that they never consider that maybe I just feel out of place being the way I am plus being of a different ethnic background.

[John31613]

I used to look that way a lot when i was in elementary. I've learned though its better to smile... because the more you look bad or angry the uglier your face gets ever for someone like me. When that happens ***you'll be stuck with that face for the rest of your life!**** because you've developed those frowning muscles. Those muscles on my forehead are developed because I've frowned so much before. Now I have to TRY to look happy even when I am. Thats not a good thing because when your trying to find a woman/man it really makes a difference to the other person, when she/he looks at you..!

[Demerzel]

I made a group for us LOL
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/...l-faces-unite/

[TigerLilyie]

People often thinking I'm frowning and I'm in a bad mood. I'm like.."It's just my face!" Then usually afterward I generally get in a bad mood.

[VIncymon]

[QUOTE=Lesley;983399]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Yeah, and a big part of it is my eyes.

I have strabismus (crosseye) and I've had many surgeries to try to correct it. Cosmetically I don't look TOO bad, but unfortunately the doctors were never able to fine-tune my eyes so that they see things as they should. I have double vision if I try to look though both eyes at the same time, like normal people do. Further, those images are misaligned. One is higher than the other like 2 cameras that are not quite pointing at the same spot ("divergent"). At this point, there is no correction for my degree of divergence given my surgical history. But if I were a child now and just beginning treatment, there would be tons of options. The technology just wasn't there 40 years ago like it is today.

So, I unconsciously adapted to using only one eye at a time, and quickly shifting back and forth in order to simulate normal stereoscopic vision and depth perception. The big problem is that the divergent eye (my right) is very sensitive to bright glaring light, and I squint-- but only that eye. The left eye (the straighter one) isn't so bad unless I look sharply right-- then that one squints to block out confusing double images. I see just fine in terms of visual acuity (20/20). I just see 2 of everything. Thus, I often look angry because I'm squinting and my face might be somewhat "squoonched" because I'm trying to process what I'm seeing.

The thing is, the times when I'm squoonched up are the times when I'm most intently "focused" (literally and figuratively) on the person or thing that's in front of me... those are the times when you have me so enraptured in your story, or attentive to what you're saying. People take that the wrong way and they think I'm stonewalling or getting angry or something. I think it also sort of repels people, because they see my unintended facial expression and they don't understand that it's because of a vision "problem".

i have the same problem, i think.
my eyes tense up when im anxious and they look funny.
the amount i get laughed at and get bad looks from it is rediculous, it sucks too, cause otherwise... i am a pretty girl.
it's sorta brutal somedays.

This reminds me of a girl from high school. She also had that eye problem. Although she didn't appear to have S.A.
But nevertheless I know the things people said about her.

Not quite sure what to say but I will tell you this:
-there are people with the same problem, or worse

-there are people who ignore stuff like that and will not make rude comments.

In more recent years, I have seen more and more of our capacity not to descriminate physical disabilities.

I just wish ppl were as reasonable towards S.A.
People just don't seem to have patience for S.A.ers.

[MissMay1977]

People tell me I need to smile more.

[nicole1234]

Originally Posted by arntk519

My mom and friends of mine and family members have been telling me that for years. Sometimes they come up to me and say "are you ok?" and then they tell me I either look like I'm angry or sad.

i get it too and it actually irritates me. im like why do you have to always ask is it the way i look or what? i've just realized though i just tend to tense up my face when anxious and people just pick up , people that are sensitive types (like my family, some strangers even say "SMILE ITS GOOD FOR YOU" im like **** off , i know theyre just trying to be nice. but strangers, its like, if i look mad even though im prob not dont say anything geez.

strangers that have gotten to know me better almost always are shocked i can be such a nice girl when apparently i look like a stuck up *****.

[JS86]

Originally Posted by JS86

I used to get the "what's wrong" query a lot, but very rarely get it nowadays. Over the years I have somehow tried to adjust the neutral expression on my face so I am not conveying emotions which I do not hold. I suppose I did it over a period of time by becoming aware of how my face was particularly contorted - for example, particular parts of the face would be strained without me even realising beforehand - and then endeavoured to change that expression on the spot to something less straining.

I probably do still put on a face from time to time that puts other people off - I do not know anyone who would tell me about things like that - but at least I do not get pity or anything like that now.

Following up on this, as I was preparing to leave the university library today, I noticed my reflection in a mirror and my neutral expression looked ever so subtly angry or stern or whatever expression you want to call it. As I said, it was subtle, but it was noticeable enough. After that point I made a few attempts at changing my expression by contorting my mouth in a different way, but it was hard to keep that up naturally.

It is really annoying to re-discover. I knew it, though. I was told by one person earlier in the year, when showing them a photo with my short hair, compared to my (then current, still current) longer hair, that I looked more approachable with the longer hair. Obviously that implies there is something in my neutral expression at times which is not amenable to sociability. On the bright side, it was only subtle and not so obvious as it would have been a few years ago.

[this portrait]

I've noticed that my neutral face looks more like I'm frowning. I also tend to look extremely cautious and defensive. Lately I've been trying to change my facial expression to appear more calm.