Do you have difficulty keeping a 'straight face' during anxiety-provoking situations?

Just wondering, because I'm beginning to think this problem is a major reason why I avoid social situations. Ever since I could remember, the common complaint is that I either look like I'm about to cry, look like I'm really angry, or look like I'm smiling too much. I can never get an even keel expression. And my attempts to get the "right" expression put a huge hamper on my analytical conversational abilities to the point that I can barely talk.

Now I know the obvious solution would be to "not care" about my expression, but it doesn't seem to work. Whenever I start a conversation, I physiologically feel restricted to the point where I probably do ellicit angry, crying, or smiley expressions. I just wish there was a way to better control my facial expressions, physiologically and physically. Anyone have similar problems or possible solutions?

Im kind of the opposite of you. I have trouble showing emotion. When i am stressed i speak in a monotone and have a blank facial expression.

Yeah here's the thing: our facial expressions subconsciously express our current emotional state. We can consciously take control of our facial expressions, but worrying too much about that can lead to neurotic thinking.

If you ask a model how she portrays emotion in her photos, she'll tell you that in order to express an emotion, you have to feel it. If you just force a smile, it won't look genuine. You really have to feel the emotions behind your expression, otherwise you'll just look like an empty shell, or your real current emotional state will find a way to reveal itself.

i have no solutions.

i experience this. usually i am so uncontrollably nervous that, as you described, something physiologically changes in me and the reaction is socially inappropriate facial expression. when i am in social situations i expend a lot of energy trying so hard to supress and hide physical symptoms of anxiety to appear normal. these physical symptoms include facial expression, body language, and fidgeting.

smiling too much... i do this when i am nervous. a lot. it is comparable to a dog with its tail between its legs. the dog is being submissive and just wants to get away. the dog doesn't decide to put its tail inbetween its legs, it is a reaction. would smiling qualify as a nervous tick? i have to try to NOT do it. i have to remind myself that, "hey you look retarded STOP." then energy is spent NOT doing it.

it is draining trying to appear normal when you are crawling out of your skin because of your surroundings (social setting). not only is it draining but it is hard to focus when people are talking to you which makes this post related to this one:
socialphobiaworld.com/unable-to-respond-17648

I guess I'm kind of like Rise Against- but in my case it usually takes a lot for me to feel the emotion, much less show it. I don't get happy, excited, or angry too easily, and I think I usually try to hide emotions that I do feel more easily like sadness- I don't come off monotone, I think I just have a "poker" face most of the time. Maybe I'm afraid of what people will think of me for showing emotion.

lurknomore said:

I guess I'm kind of like Rise Against- but in my case it usually takes a lot for me to feel the emotion, much less show it. I don't get happy, excited, or angry too easily, and I think I usually try to hide emotions that I do feel more easily like sadness- I don't come off monotone, I think I just have a "poker" face most of the time. Maybe I'm afraid of what people will think of me for showing emotion.

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Same here, I have a machismo attitude when it comes to emotion. It's kinda weird considering I have SA.

Yes, most of my energy is wasted on my futile attempts at appearing normal, which basically means that I can't do anything else. All of my mental energy is being sucked out of me and I feel so hopeless. I think it's because of our ego, we can't extend beyond our ego, accept the present moment for what it is, or accept responsibility for what we have created. We think we are protecting ourselves and upholding our importance, but in reality we are fighting a losing battle.

I have come to the conclusion that people who prosper in life are those who can extend beyond their ego. I have come to realize that I never blame my problems on my poor decisions and actions. I conveniently attribute my failures and problems to my mental illness (anxiety and depression). Actually, despite saying all of the above, I STILL think that none of my problems and failures are my fault, and that there is nothing I can do about it.

I know it doesn't make sense, feel free to ignore...

Argamemnon said:

I know it doesn't make sense, feel free to ignore...

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nope. it makes perfect sense! i do the same thing, too.

Argamemnon said:

Actually, despite saying all of the above, I STILL think that none of my problems and failures are my fault, and that there is nothing I can do about it.

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None of your problems are your fault, and there's nothing you can do about it? That's a victim attitude man, you won't make any progress like that.

i also have a similar problem since i cant take things very seriously

i come off as cold and uncaring

nephatitus said:

i also have a similar problem since i cant take things very seriously

i come off as cold and uncaring

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If you didn't take things seriously, wouldn't you be laughing and having fun, rather than coming off as cold?

Anubis said:

Just wondering, because I'm beginning to think this problem is a major reason why I avoid social situations. Ever since I could remember, the common complaint is that I either look like I'm about to cry, look like I'm really angry, or look like I'm smiling too much. I can never get an even keel expression. And my attempts to get the "right" expression put a huge hamper on my analytical conversational abilities to the point that I can barely talk.

Now I know the obvious solution would be to "not care" about my expression, but it doesn't seem to work. Whenever I start a conversation, I physiologically feel restricted to the point where I probably do ellicit angry, crying, or smiley expressions. I just wish there was a way to better control my facial expressions, physiologically and physically. Anyone have similar problems or possible solutions?

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I know what you mean. Sometimes I try to keep myself from laughing during funerals of people I never met. I'm not sick-minded or anything, but I tend to laugh at the worst times for no reason at all.