Are you able to smile?

After the illness, how has been the mood whether you are still able to find the smile often or have sadness piling up? For me sadness mostly. I try to find something to smile though. Is that normal to not be able to smile always? Will the mind still work well?

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Overall it’s better to smile.

I smile a lot… I try to laugh at me and smile even when things are really bad.

I laugh at even stupid things I made during psychosis.

Of course there are days when it’s almost impossible… I just try to stay strong

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That is a good outlook to life. I will try to smile whenever I can it does not hurt anything.

As you said also when things are bad maybe during psychosis try to look back and smile and maybe it helps with the mindset.

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The best advice for myself is… find more people with whom I can smile together. :slight_smile: It really helped me.
I don’t know, but I believe it applies for everyone.

I do not have many friends… but I try to create this environment around me where people can feel relaxed, like my family, my ex((there’s possibility we will be together again)), or several friends I have.

Of course it’s not always possible. My family is a bit toxic, and there are many things I do not control in my family environment.

But atleast I try to create peace and a bit of “spa” atmosphere in my relationships. Then I also smile more!

IDK if it helps… I just tried to say, that if it’s hard for you to smile, maybe relationships in your life are not fulfilling… because sometimes it’s one of the main reasons.

But it could be anything…
Ughhh I wanted to write several sentences but like always… :woman_shrugging::woman_shrugging::woman_shrugging:

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Its not often i smile in public. Ive normally got a stern “dont f with me” face on me.

When i do smile - it looks like im gurning tho - cos i got no teeth in my gob lol :smiley:

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You are right. I have had so many issues and still some going on so not able to smile mostly. But there is an option to smile still in front of mirror even if I am not able to do it in front of people. I just need to find ways to smile once in a while to keep my mood up.

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I too have stern look. My teeth was messed up and its somewhat ok now. Trying to smile with what I have, maybe it is ok.

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when i had the blunt effect i think i was forcing a smile but when my feelings and emotions came back it was more natural, sometimes i would smile at inappropriate times so i needed to be careful about that,

But mostly these days its nice and i smile a lot, its nice to get that reciprocation when i smile and its well received and given back, esp with the pretty ladies :wink:

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I do give a fake smile most of the time.

But when I actually smile my sister in law makes fun of me.

So I stopped smiling in front of her.

I stopped bothering to talk to her as well.

My smiles are not very big ones nor, neither very natural still…
I also was a totally given person for a decade, after my dx, until it, it was another hell too…
But i miss smiling and laughing now, am aware of that now, so i try lol :slight_smile:
I sometimes fake my smiles, yeap… I also try to be surrounded with more positivity lol…
Just dont give up, its ok to have been shocked around this illness lol… I suffered a lot internally, the others didnt have a clue how painful it was in me, but the best friends of mine took me without smiling etc…
Stay well :pray: :pray:

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I smile all the time, both at home and in public. I’m usually either joking around and being silly (home) or talking nicely/ being friendly (public).

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I smile a lot these days, especially since I got false teeth and am no longer embarrassed to show my teeth when I smile.

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I have schizoaffective - bipolar type. The mood component means I’m either manic, hypomanic, mixed mood, normal/stable mood, or depressed. I do smile a lot when my mood is on the higher end. I was told once, a long time ago, that I’m the happiest person in the world but also the saddest person in the world.

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Its normal to not always smile.

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Heck, I have braces on and am missing my canines, and I still smile like I get paid for it! I’m glad you like your smile now.

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The years when I was suicidal, from 1991 to 2005, I couldn’t bring myself to smile at all. It was very hard. Now, it’s the easiest thing in the world.

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I had years without laughter ever and I didn’t smile much either.

Nowadays I smile more and am able to laugh sometimes.
I don’t laugh often but it does happen.thankfully it happens sometimes but would love to laugh more often.

I try. In the last ten years I’ve had to get 5 molars pulled, so I’m developing a small gap between my front teeth. Trying not to be self conscious about it. Have pretty much just gotten used to it now.

I do smile a lot passing people with their dogs on our walking trails. :blush:

I seldom smile because of the state of my teeth. My daughter started making enquiries about false teeth for me, but Covid hit the UK about a fortnight later . What with Covid + the reduced mobility from the falls I’ve been taken of the dentist’s list due to non attendance. There are now very few dentists who take on people via the NHS.

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Oh, I’m so sorry mate. I completely sympathize. The first six months with falsies are a real struggle, but your quality of life comes roaring back once you’re over that hill. I would not be surprised if your daughter moves a mountain for you here as she seems the type.

:muscle:

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