[BleakGeek]

I cannot respond to someone's emotional expressions properly. When someone smiles at me i don't react with a smile in return until it is too late which makes me look like I'm faking it. It's not because I'm depressed, I just don't process it quick enough. I have had so many negative encounters with people and have lost employment opportunities and potential friendships because of it. It is to the point I avoid social situations. Does anyone else have trouble responding to someone's emotional expressions?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I don't know if this is true but the OT who evaluated me for vocational rehab said it was unusual for someone with bipolar to make eye contact. It's just one of the symptoms. I get very frustrated now because I spent grad school working on it while my classmates encouraged me and I got good at it. Then when my life fell apart 4 years ago that was an ability I lost and never regained. I make myself make eye contact with my therapist for at least a few minutes but that's all I can do. I hate it so I'm sorry you have this problem. I don't know why it's part of bipolar but that's what the OT said.

I think that we just don't know how to respond, what with like at least 3 different ways to feel about something according to mood that we over analyze things. It's this unsuredness that hesitates me. Like when depressed, the answer is a "No". When mixed, it's a "Hell no". When manic it's a "Hell yeah". When at base, "let me consider.."

Sometimes I'm afraid to answer because I'm afraid that the answer will be bipolar influenced and that I'll feel differently about it later- confusion causing dissociation.

Bipolar breeds low self-esteem which leads to lack of eye contact- I think. I have to force myself to make eye contact or at least look at their noses. When talking to someone if I remember.

[BleakGeek]

I never really thought of eye contact being the issue. I'll have to be more aware of that in the future and see if that is my problem. Thanks!

[jacky8807]

Idk I have met some bipolar ppl that made over the moon eye contact
I would tend to agree with always changing....it's a self esteem issue that can be brought on by bipolar

[B2008]

I love learning everyone's symptoms! I have always been a use it or lose it too. I never know how much eye contact how much to speak in a conversation and the worst is the delayed correct reactions. Of course my facial expressions react before my brain sorts out how I feel vs how I should feel vs the correct response. Sometimes I just close my eyes and apologize for the vomit that comes out. Followed by the hopelessness of maintaining new and old relationships. Practice practice practice. And I also watch other people in conversations to use as a kind of example.

No matter how small, a positive change deserves to be celebrated!

[Pastel Kitten]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I don't know if this is true but the OT who evaluated me for vocational rehab said it was unusual for someone with bipolar to make eye contact. It's just one of the symptoms. I get very frustrated now because I spent grad school working on it while my classmates encouraged me and I got good at it. Then when my life fell apart 4 years ago that was an ability I lost and never regained. I make myself make eye contact with my therapist for at least a few minutes but that's all I can do. I hate it so I'm sorry you have this problem. I don't know why it's part of bipolar but that's what the OT said.

Wow I had no idea the two could be related. This might explain so much. I have to force myself to maintain eye contact with anyone other than my boyfriend. When I look at my pdoc it's more like a weird fixated stare because I feel it'd be rude to look at the floor, which is where my gaze naturally drifts towards. That, or anywhere other than her eyes.

[lunaticfringe]

I have always been known for my pronounced and often inappropriate facial expressions. Like someone else said, my face shows how I'm feeling before I have a chance to decide if I want to express it or not. I often also have strange intrusive thoughts when interacting with people and that dictates my facial expression. Another interesting thing is that I am almost never aware of my expression. Many times I have caught my reflection and been surprised that I looked angry or sad, or high frankly.

[Imah]

I also do not always respond correctly because instead of being in the moment - there, with my emotions, I hold myself back - examining the interplay between the characters and evaluating same. I tend to practice what I might say to people ahead of time, so my conversations seem rehearsed (because they are). One Doctor thought I may have borderline personality disorder along with bipolar, I don't know which of these (if either) cause me to be in a constant state of alertness to the point I am rarely natural. But I think this is why I don't respond naturally, but I try to fake it all the time. It makes me seem weird. I think 'normal' people respond naturally because their thought process doesn't have to go through a tight filter of judgement.

Does this happen when your manic too? When I am manic, I am totally free with all thought and expression. Talk about WEEEEE. lol

(oh, in addition: I make eye contact to the point of not blinking)

Best of luck to us all.

[scatterbrained04]

I know I tend to appear emotionless and don't make eye contact a lot when depressed. I couldn't tell you if I'm that way in a normal mood or hypo.

[Unrigged64072835]

I don't do eye contact very well either, but I'm also introverted and painfully shy. I DO end up staring at the floor with t and pdoc. I think the only people I have good eye contact with is my family. I guess it might be a degree of contact; I do better around people I'm around all the time.

I also don't give the right verbal response sometimes. It's weird.

[BipolaRNurse]

I have issues with eye contact too. I thought it was just me.

[lunaticfringe]

Does anyone else end up smiling at people when it is most likely inappropriate to do so? And yes when it comes to eye contact, I either do it too much or too little. Usually too much actually.

[Imah]

Originally Posted by lunaticfringe

Does anyone else end up smiling at people when it is most likely inappropriate to do so? And yes when it comes to eye contact, I either do it too much or too little. Usually too much actually.

I smile a lot with people. I hide my shyness with appearing outgoing. But I smile to the point of inappropriate - especially in stores, shopping, helping strangers. I do eye contact and smile. But when I had gone shopping weekly with an ARMHS worker (like a social worker who helps you) she would point out to me when I needed to stop smiling. She said my smiling showed her how bad of a time I was having. I call it, 'maniacal smiling'. The difference between normal smiling and -about to freak out- smiling.

I don't smile because I am happy. I smile because it makes a person not look deeper. "No layers here, move along".

[hahayeahtotallylol]

Originally Posted by lunaticfringe

Does anyone else end up smiling at people when it is most likely inappropriate to do so? And yes when it comes to eye contact, I either do it too much or too little. Usually too much actually.

Yes I laugh at bad times. Especially when someone is being really serious about something

And I too have too much eye contact sometimes. I try to soften

As for expressions.. Not the best at it, but when I'm depressed it seems like a huge effort to make appropriate expressions and even not to be monotone.

A lot of time when I try not to be monotone when depressed I just end up talking louder instead. When I'm not depressed I can be more "sing songy" with it with ease

[gayleggg]

I've been having the same problem lately. I don't know what is causing it but my friend has commented on it. It's like it's on delay.

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