Face so tense!

I've always been insecure about my facial expressions towards other people and how they react to me. It used to be mild but now I'm obsessively locked in my face (for years now, I'm 24). My head twitches when I'm in public and my face is so tense I look completely contorted and people always look at me in anger or discust and I try to smile at them but I just feel like a creep when I do, and their reactions show me I am just that. People that know me even have a hard time looking at my face because they know how I feel about it. I'm not a bad looking guy, but I think it roots from wanting to look good (8th grade past stuff) and an old friend once told me I look ugly when I'm mad so ever since I've been obsessed with this. It feels like the grip of godzilla himself pulling every muscle in my face and body every moment I wake up to going to bed. I can't socialize obviously in this way when I'm so panicked about people looking at me. I've tried breathing excersizes, meditations, compassionate awareness, everything it seems but part of me doesn't want to leave this small little imprisoned world I'm in because it fears it will loose control or something. So I'm constantly controlling my breath (forcing breath, can't breath), controlling my body and face, and I forgot how to relax, my body is literally in a panick whirlwind every waking moment, in fear of fear itself but mostly this face curse I've been given to such extremes it makes it impossible to live! Ugh! I'm obsessed with all of it, I've lost friends, girlfriends, ledt jobscause I just couldn't take it anymore, its ruined my life for so many years now and I don't know what else to do. Its so exhausting seeing your reflection wherever u look, "knowing" they will judge and give u disapproving reactions and I wished that didn't get to me, but it does every time! I've become master of avoidance but it seems there is no way out. I'm tired of it, strained to every inch of my body, hidden in the back woods waiting for a savior of some sort. This is no way to live, I fear I will die knowing I couldn't fight this thing, hiding away forever. Anybody else have anything remotely similar? Long post sorry, its my first one so thought id get this out in the open, thanx for listening -T

Hi & Welcome!

Does this only happen with people or alone eg in front of a mirror too?

People can say silly stuff they don't even remember years later, and it can stick with a person... Have you tried CBT, EFT or TAT yet?

I don't have what you have so bad, have sometimes wondered about my facial expressions too or disliked them, then just thought 'Ah well'... other people usually take me as I am... It's more about what you say than how you look.. Have you looked into BDD yet? (There are threads on this forum and books on Amazon..)

I tend to look serious, or even angry. I've been aware of it for a long time. I had terrible, and I mean TERRIBLE teeth and I was so self conscious that I felt that smiling wasn't even an option. I've since had my teeth fixed - braces for 2 years when you are in your 30's is tough - and I do try and smile more, but sometimes I see myself in the reflection of a shop window or something and I am taken aback at how pissed off I look, even if I'm feeling happy. It's just the way my face is, and I do try to make an effort to relax and smile. It is hard to keep it up though....

Well I think I can kind of relate. Although I am not sure if its all in my head or not. I get the feeling people judge me fairly quickly due to my face... I try to smile and be friendly but I have quite a prominent brow and narrow face, as if I constantly look angry, or sometimes sad. I am also losing my hair now, which isnt helping the situation. Someone once told me that I wasnt bad looking but I just "look" awkward. Is it even possible to have a face that just makes people uncomfortable? The sad thing is, is that when I get the feeling that people are making assumptions about the way they think I am, then it really does make me feel unhappy. Its a cycle. I wish I had the kind of face that said to people, I'm an ok guy, just give me a chance so I can show that to you... I try to live by my own experience and not judge others on the way they look or the way they carry themselves...there is always more to a person than just gut feelings. Unfortunately I am pretty shy as well, so all of this combined with lack of confidence and poor social skills, means for me, doing well in life can be difficult.

people always thought im hostile because of my facial expression. because when im anxious i have a fierce look....i hate seeing my face. i tried to smile esp when i was working as a server but it is too fake.

People ask all the time why I'm angry or sad, or depressed. And when I smile even though I'm happy, it doesn't seem like a genuine smile. I just have a naturally serious looking face and I give of the impression im hostile and a bitch.

Yeah people ask me as well. I stay so tense, my face hurts and I get neck pain. I have frown marks on my forehead.

Every time I have started a new job after a few months in at least two of my co-workers will say something like " your such a nice girl, I was worried when you first started because you look so angry all the time" WTF??? Yeah well thanks for giving me a complex.