Social Anxiety Support

Fuzzy Logic · 10-27-2009, 04:58 AM

Since I started seeing my therapist a couple of weeks ago I have taken her advice onboard and started focusing on other people rather than myself. Out of doing this I have noticed how often other people seem to smile when they greet you, whereas I would never smile at all. I would often get the natural inclination to smile but I would suppress it because I was self-concious about revealing any emotion.

However, I have begun to stop doing this and the and improvement in how people behave towards me is pretty marked. Just by smiling at someone they automatically become much more friendly and interested in you. It's amazing, I can't believe I never realised this before. I feel as if I've unlocked a big part of the secret of getting people to like you.

Shion · 10-27-2009, 07:28 AM

This is a big difficulty for me. I can't seem to figure out how to...smile. As dumb as that may sound, It's hard for me to do and it's something I've struggled with for quite a long time. I've been told by my spouse and my manager I need to do more of it but it's difficult. Any advise on how to learn how to smile, and really mean it?

- Shion

JMX · 10-27-2009, 09:46 AM

It may sound so simple, yet I think this may be one of the best advices I've read in recent memory. No sarcasm. Maybe people find me repulsive because I never smile, although I have been trying to be funny and positive with this girl I'm interested in for one of my classes, and it doesn't seem to be working. Oh well, maybe I'll try smiling whenever I'm ordering food at a restaurant or something. The only time I smile is when someone makes a silly mistake and apologizes, and I smile and say "nah it's ok"

Dempsey · 10-30-2009, 07:45 AM

I've been figuring this out lately. Girls especially are more friendly with you if you make eye contact and smile, because you become less awkward or intimidating.

Prakas · 10-30-2009, 10:55 AM

I've had more positive reactions as well when smiling when greeting someone. Problem is I can't maintain a consistancy of it, 1 day i might. Its very difficult and is one of the only times I can manage a fake smile. However, the reactions are definately more positive when I'm smiling.

Indigo Flow · 10-31-2009, 11:08 AM

that's weird, i smile at people a lot and i've not noticed any difference lol

10-27-2009, 04:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Fuzzy Logic Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom, Northern Ireland Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 312	Discovering the Power of a Smile Since I started seeing my therapist a couple of weeks ago I have taken her advice onboard and started focusing on other people rather than myself. Out of doing this I have noticed how often other people seem to smile when they greet you, whereas I would never smile at all. I would often get the natural inclination to smile but I would suppress it because I was self-concious about revealing any emotion. However, I have begun to stop doing this and the and improvement in how people behave towards me is pretty marked. Just by smiling at someone they automatically become much more friendly and interested in you. It's amazing, I can't believe I never realised this before. I feel as if I've unlocked a big part of the secret of getting people to like you. __________________ “There is but a thin line between madness and genius. I have been trying valiantly to cross it, but I don’t think I’m mad enough yet.”

10-27-2009, 07:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shion Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Age: 26 Posts: 4	This is a big difficulty for me. I can't seem to figure out how to...smile. As dumb as that may sound, It's hard for me to do and it's something I've struggled with for quite a long time. I've been told by my spouse and my manager I need to do more of it but it's difficult. Any advise on how to learn how to smile, and really mean it? - Shion

10-27-2009, 09:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
JMX Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 299	It may sound so simple, yet I think this may be one of the best advices I've read in recent memory. No sarcasm. Maybe people find me repulsive because I never smile, although I have been trying to be funny and positive with this girl I'm interested in for one of my classes, and it doesn't seem to be working. Oh well, maybe I'll try smiling whenever I'm ordering food at a restaurant or something. The only time I smile is when someone makes a silly mistake and apologizes, and I smile and say "nah it's ok"

10-30-2009, 07:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dempsey Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney Australia Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 637	I've been figuring this out lately. Girls especially are more friendly with you if you make eye contact and smile, because you become less awkward or intimidating.

10-30-2009, 10:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Prakas Status: Failure - Life Sucks Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Delaware Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 434	I've had more positive reactions as well when smiling when greeting someone. Problem is I can't maintain a consistancy of it, 1 day i might. Its very difficult and is one of the only times I can manage a fake smile. However, the reactions are definately more positive when I'm smiling.

10-31-2009, 11:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
Indigo Flow Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London, England Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 258	that's weird, i smile at people a lot and i've not noticed any difference lol