[guru]

I've been living the past few years with a problem in the way i talk, I'm not sure when or how it started but i believe it's due to my always thinking of what people think of my when they look at me talking. I'm a good looking person so it's just perfectionism i guess that got me thinking.
Anyways It feels like my mouth moves unnaturally when i talk and it's difficult to form a true fake smile when i'm not genuinely ammused. Whenever i see someone i always start thinking of how i look to them and it's really starting to interfere the way i talk with people.
Recently my face sort of twitches lightly when i talk to some people or even just looking at someone that is looking at me. I'm not sure what people think of it because i haven't asked (embarrased) but i can tell they are turned off by the way their facial reactions respond to mine.
Can someone give me an idea of what it might be, or if you've heard of something similar, or maybe if i should just talk to my psychiatrist. Thanks alot.

[Rapunzel]

Chances are, you notice this much more than anyone else does. If it bothers you, talking to your psychiatrist is a good idea. Possibly he can assure you that the way you talk is fine, or if he thinks it would help, he could refer you to someone to work on facial expressions and communication skills, and/or change your meds to give you something to help you be more comfortable about it.

Ya know, it almost sounds a little OCD'ish maybe. Like you started thinking about it, and it became something you focused on a little too much? I'm just guessing of course. But certainly talking someone is the is the way to go. If you can't get yourself to ask friends or family, then maybe ask your GP? He/she could refer you to the right person for additional help.

Take care. Emmy

[sqrlb8]

Hi guru, and welcome. Man, do I know what you're talking about. For myself it was all wrapped up in self conciousness. I could make wild guesses about where I picked up such a dose of that, but in the face of my multiple dx's the point seems to lose its mysteriousness.

I don't really know if it was the revelation of the breakdown/dx experience, or the subsequent focus on performing musically, but now I find that it's gone. As to the former, before the dx experience, I suppose I felt haunted by a feeling of "otherness" in every situation. It just always seemed that I was experiencing the same situations differently from everyone else. As to the latter, performing, singing in particular, tuned me into a kind of character acting. In order to sing some songs, I have to "become" the character of that song, in that back and forthing, maybe something clicked as to who is "me" and who is singing.

I can't tell if I'm actually conveying anthing meaningful in this, but I certainly identify with what you describe.

Everything changes. With your awareness of the problem, resources are marshalled from within you to begin unraveling it. I suspect your epiphany is "in the mail" so to speak.

peace, guru, see ya round I hope.

[LMo]

I know a guy who gets so nervous in front of groups that the entire left side of his face freezes -- like he's had a stroke or something. It's awful for him. I think you should get it checked out to rule out neurological causes. Good luck (and Rapunzel is right -- you're probably way more aware of it than the people you are talking to).

Also, I do get major eye and leg twitches when I'm under stress. My doctor did a blood test for electrolyte levels and said that insufficient potassium intake can cause muscle twitches. Maybe that's something you could have looked at as well.

[guru]

Wow, thanks alot guys! Usually on forums it's just gibberish and insults. Nice to know people are nice!! So anyways I will defenitly talk to my psych one of these days. LMo that's really interesting about the potassium thing becuase i really don't eat much fruit, which is I suppose where you get most of it (bananas) Thanks again guys.