SZA diagnosed. I struggle so much with feeling shame around my flat affect. It’s almost always present and I struggle to interact and seem present when I go out or spend time with others. Like I’m there, I feel things, I’m happy to be there, but people keep asking if I’m okay. It makes me feel wrong. Truly, viscerally wrong.
I didn’t know how I felt about it until tonight and I’m just feeling so many emotions. I’m so tired of feeling like an “other” around people. I’m trying not to cry while I’m out, supposed to be having a good time.
I just don’t know anymore. It would help if I could hear from others who have experienced this.
Yes I have it and my mother points it out to me saying I wish you would smile more or raise your lip before you trip over it. Whatever I know it’s not the solution I just avoid people. I feel like I don’t even care anymore.
Yeah i get that. Its the Anxiety. Probably why im a recluse. Always got asked if i was ok as well. Its not exactly the done thing tho, is it - to say, no actually im not - my mental health is playing up.
Thats probably you overthinking. Its your brain trying to decipher what your feeling.
I have forced so many many many smiles too. I’m right there with you guys. You’re not alone.
I’m sorry @R00nT00n that you are having a tough night. Good job though for getting out there and socializing. That’s a difficult thing to do. It’s a good and helpful and healthy habit. At least for me it is, as hard as it can be do to!
I don’t think it’s anxiety though. I think it’s just being tired of being overanalyzed by everyone around me, picked and taken apart. How I feel is completely different from what you’re going through. I understand that you were trying to help, but please don’t project. It completely devalues what I’m going through in my own way.