[hamster-bamster]

I do not think I am hypo. I do very tedious, detail-oriented work which is not compatible with hypo, I think. Think elaborate Excel spreadsheets - nothing hypo about Excel, to me...

Everyone smiles at me. With the disappointing exception of friends who did not email a thank-you note following a dinner (but as has been explained to me, this is totally normal), everyone is treating me super-nicely in superficial, non-intimate relationships. People open doors for me, everyone at work says hi, even people I barely know. Same in public transit. I left home in the morning the other day and a construction worker wished me a good day and asked how I was doing. This is pretty much like in the days of my youth, but back then it was explainable by my very good looks (plus living in a country where men are less inhibited than in the States about showing their interest), which since then have faded away, so now it is clearly NOT the looks, it is something else. "Positive energy" as my former p-doc put it? It is like something beams from me which clearly did not before. It is not even that I always have my own smile on, even though I do have a very authentic smile (and cannot fake it when anxious or depressed). But in general I have made a conscious decision to be nice to people and they clearly reciprocate, in superficial, non-intimate relationships.

I swear they all do objectively smile at me, it is not in my head. They objectively open doors, I am not inventing it. I do not think I am hypo, I think it is reality.

...hey N...hamster funny girl!

lets let them love you

people smile sometimes cos they are nervous sometimes because they wish they were you

lets let them get away with it this time!

next time maybe they aint so lucky better stop them .....


james

[pegasus]

Respect is good!

[Anneinside]

The first thing I notice when coming out of depression is that people start smiling at me... and then I realize it is because I am smiling.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Anneinside

The first thing I notice when coming out of depression is that people start smiling at me... and then I realize it is because I am smiling.

I bet that is it. So it is Prozac that beams from me.

[cocoabeans]

When you're depressed, you probably don't even notice smiles or resent those people! Depression has this way of painting you're world, as does happiness and, yea that mania thing.

When you're happy, you see a fairer view and you smile, people naturally smile back. If you're grouchy, you get grouch back. It's a survival thing so, if you're smiling and projecting positive energy, those around you will reflect it back at you. I try very much to fake it when I'm down for this reason.

And you're so right about Excel! Until your brain goes on a mission of sorts with the numbers. Darn "manic" missions! Doubt that is what it is for you since you're not describing any of that mad drive and hyper focus.

[unaluna]

I think sometimes people thought I was pregnant, cos I carry all my wgt in my belly, so I would get this BIG smile from people, and i'd be like, hmm, wth is THAT all about?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by cocoabeans

And you're so right about Excel! Until your brain goes on a mission of sorts with the numbers. Darn "manic" missions! Doubt that is what it is for you since you're not describing any of that mad drive and hyper focus.

Now that you mention it... I DID have a manic episode with Excel. It was at my former work - the good job that I lost through staying on disability for too long. I had an idea at night and I drove to work and spent hours organizing an elaborate shared Excel spreadsheet to be worked on in collaboration by my business unit and HR, and I was inserting these crazy VLOOKUPs to connect the sheets, for hours, and only when I got satisfied, I drove back home. Pure mania.

[BlueInanna]

My guess, you are still beautiful and the weight and age doesn't matter as much as you think. Yes, let them love you and enjoy these smiles. And holding doors open, I love chivalry personally.

[eloquentdisaster]

My guess would be that people can sense you are a good person