Inappropriate smiling

[NovemberRain]

I do this ALOT.

Basically its my way of telling ppl, hey i am harmless, dont take me seriously.
i am just a fun, light hearted person.
I am very afraid of conflict and need ppls approval.
i smile and i agree to everything, so ppl will like me.
:(
i do it too much and i wish i didnt.
ppl take advantage of me all the time, cause i cant seem to say no.
i dont know how to stop.

this actually reminds me of a time, when i was interviewing T's.
One T, was trying to copy me , he would also smile..but it was super weird and awkward, cause he would stop..then smile again like i was. he was also finding it weird i guess. i suppose thats how i look when i talk and smile too much for no reason at all.

i smile a lot with my current T, he is so awesome ...he keeps a straight face ALL the time. i really appreciate it. he takes me seriously and understand its a defence mechanism..i laugh out uncontrollably , when he asks or mentions something super uncomfortable for me. i literally cant stop. i am nervous yet i am laughing. hes patient and waits for my laughing spell to end to continue.

 

[Deleted member 44517]

@NovemberRain he sounds like a great t.

 

[Deleted member 38906]

I do this ALOT.

Basically its my way of telling ppl, hey i am harmless, dont take me seriously.
i am just a fu...

Yep sounds like a great T. Can your T educate my T?

 

[Scarlet13]

I will laugh and even joke when I talk about horrible things. I am just trying to save face in a way. Like laughing helps with the vulnerability in a way.

 

[LuckiLee]

Laughter is the best medicine! ;)

My whole family does this. Even Grandma. We put the FUN in dysFUNction.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's how some people deal with tragedy.

 

[mumstheword]

My whole family does this. Even Grandma. We put the FUN in dysFUNction.

I wouldn't worry too much abo...

LMAO I shared this one with my guy. We both had a laugh about it.
f*cking hilarious.
He and I do a lot of that too. We laugh a lot together. So healing. So essential.

 

[Lee2001]

I think I smile through every single one of my sessions! My Therapist knows it's my defense mechanism! He has said most people are usually crying when talking about the stuff we share on, but I truly can't control it. So do not feel bad! Non verbal body language is probably giving you away in some other way which usually tips off the therapist. Non verbal is so much louder than words anyhow! That's what they are really looking at.

 

[NightSky]

Yup. I HATE it. I can’t control it. I’ve never cried a tear in therapy. I laugh instead. And I make my T laugh. It’s the only way I can handle vulnerability. It’s the only way we ever dealt with hard things while I was growing up. Now it’s super frustating and I’m trying to change it. You’re not alone.

 

[Victory]

I find that I'm constantly smiling inappropriately in therapy. Like when I'm talking about something bad or...

Protection mechanism...

 

[Deleted member 38906]

Protection mechanism...

Protection from what though? Feelings?

 

[Victory]

Protection from what though? Feelings?

Gosh, yes, and a way to temper the anger that can sneak up on a person with PTSD.

 

[shatter eyes]

I do this alot...
It is automatic...

It is like something tickling my sensitivity inside...dont want to talk.. not comfortable...

So inappropriate smiles come.
My dad died...people talk to me.. i smile and was marked as the evil son.