Also, I think attempts to "mask" just make things worse. Unmasked I typically would probably come across as a socially awkward and frequently fidgety science nerd who also experiences short episodes of euphoric hypomania. My facial expressions range from non-existent in day to day activities to cartoonishly over animated when discussing a special interest topic and when hypomanic. I remember a time when I decided that I was going to try to act more "normal". I thought I was giving everyone I walked past a friendly smile and a nod of acknowledgement. The door greeter would nod to acknowledge people as they passed so this was where I got that idea from. Instead of being pleased, it seemed like people were frightened by me but I did not understand why and it saddened me. When I was at home I imitated what I had been doing at the store in front of a mirror and it suddenly made more sense. What I had actually been doing was making sure to make direct eye contact then blaring my eyes, arching my eyebrows, and giving a large cheshire grin. Then bobbing my head before quickly dropping the expression and turning toward the next person to repeat the process. No wonder many of then looked so freaked out.
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