Before I got ill I had strong eye contact.
I would pretty much look in peoples eyes naturally while conversating.
However when I got ill I was hearing things from people around me and would think its all real, I would keep my head down and not look them in the eyes if you understand.
This went on for about a year and a half until I got on medication and was able to function at work again and live a partially normal life.
But because of all the time from not having eye contact I find it very uncomfortable to look people In the eyes for more than 5-10 seconds, I try to keep them (my eyes) busy. It’s like I’ve forgotten the natural way to have eye contact with people.
Yes when I was first diagnosed… and for a time after… eye contact was hard. It was awkward. I was sure people could see through the eye… into the mind.
I got out of the habit too. With some practice… and my meds helped me as well…
The eye contact is coming back. I’m a bit better then I used to be.
Good luck… just remember… social skills are just that… skills… and can be relearned.
I have problems with it both ways. Sometimes if I’m not careful I tend to stare at people especially women I’m attracted to, and then I become self conscious about it and I try not to look at them.
Once I get used to people I’m okay, it’s mainly people I don’t know well, and women I really like that give me trouble.
I either glare or I am not doing something very important, like how I don’t glare at my girlfriend unless we are sitting and talking and not eating. Otherwise I naturally stare in people’s eyes unless I am having a psychotic day, which I have had lately.