I have a question about being "aloof in appearance".

Okay so I think there could be a possibility that I have schizoid personality disorder or something similar. I am posting this because I am considering talking to my therapist about it. The thing is, when I am socializing and I feel uncomfortable, I smile constantly. It is almost like a twitch, I cannot help it. Basically I was wondering if this is something that could occur in someone with schizoid personality disorder.

I'm not any kind of expert on Schizoid (nor Asperger's, which I noticed you asked about in another post). At times I've considered the possibility that I might have one or the other but if I do, it doesn't seem to bother me or get in my way any more than having blue (or brown) eyes would.
It seems to me that that could occur in someone with or without schizoid personality disorder. I think if I noticed someone (including me ) doing that, it would say to me only that they were tense or otherwise uncomfortable at that particular time and in that particular situation.

You may or may not find this a bit off topic -- if so, I apologize -- but I wanted to share a poem with you that I came across once when I was busy figuring out how many different things might be wrong with me. It's "O Where Are You Going?" by W.H. Auden and you can find a copy of it here.

If you are willingly engaging in socializing, in my opinion, would automatically make me say no to SPD. Socializing would be something you have no interest in. Asperger's? Yeah, but I would expect there to be more of a presence of a significant dysfunction or disability in your communicating/socializing skills. Like looking off to the side when talking to somebody or having a robotic/emotionless like voice/dialogue.

I'm no expert, but that doesn't sound like SPD. I think if someone with SPD were uncomfortable in a social situation, they would either a) leave or b) not have socialized in the first place. There are people with schizoid symptoms (such as myself) who can socialize normally if required, but it's not a "twitch" or something I can't help. I can blend in just fine if I want to, but I am controlling it, not an unwanted twitch.

If this bothers you, perhaps you could talk to your therapist about it like you mentioned? (That brings me to another point - someone with SPD, I think, would very rarely talk to their therapist about a concern revolving around socializing - most people with SPD are fine with not socializing and don't seek help for it).

Like FooZe mentioned though, your problem could occur in someone with or without SPD, everyone is unique!

Thank you for your response. I alos rather enjoyed the poem.

Thank you for your response but would you mind clarifying for me? When you say "willingly engaging in socializing," do you mean socializing on my own accord or responding when others say something to me?

Thank you for responding. To clarify though, I am not in therapy because I am upset that I do not have friends, I am in therapy because I was having issues with school ( to the point where my mother nearly had to go to court ). Personally, I do not have a problem with not having friends, unfortunatley, my mother and therapist think I need some.

I can't comment on that one.

Yeah, what's with these supposedly normal people and their incessant need to relate to each other?

I don't know much about this really, but I know that I'm not the "typical" schizoid according to when I was diagnosed. I can't remember the name and my pdoc said it was "mild." Whatever that means.

In my experience with myself I do engage people and I do get the need to engage in socializing. However, I am very quickly and easily aggitated by it for the smallest things. I have one somewhat close friend and my husband and when I do make new 'friends' it usually comes to the point where I just drop them once I feel this aggitation. And then I get depressed because I have no friends. I've lived with this cycle for a long, long time.

Also I don't really like socializing in person that much. I would much rather e-mail than phone, for example (which is really hard because I am a secretary and I hate talking on the phone.) Or I would much rather talk on a forum than face to face. Or if I'm playing an online game, I get frustrated if I have to work in a group unless the people have taken time to be friendly toward me.

I just don't feel comfortable with people in general. I do tend to laugh nervously when talking to people even if I know them, because I just feel uncomfortable. I'm also constantly gauging people I'm talking to. Like, if they don't look at me while I talk I get really uncomfortable and just want to stop. (But thanks to being bipolar I have pressured speach is one of my main mania symptoms, so sometimes I just talk and can't shut up even if I want to.)

Okay, well, that's what I've noticed in me. Not sure if that helps.

I fall into the category of the "secret schizoid". Most people would tell you I don't have trouble socializing. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Most times I can overcome difficulties, but I do have consistent problems with, 1)eye contact- I don't know why it is impossible for me to look people in the eye but I just can't do it for longer than a split second when I make myself bc I'm sure I'm making them uncomfortable 2)Sometimes I stutter mildly if nervous 3)sometimes I get incredibly nervous for absolutely no apparent reason and start shaking and vibrating and breathing heavily. It can be embarrassing. That's when I tend to turn inwards and shut out... 4)I will totally forget what I was saying. That is super embarrassing and everyone seems to think I am stoned.....