Did/do you practice facial expressions in the mirror?
Hylian
Citizen, Mentor
in General ASD
I used to practice facial expressions in the mirror all the time as a kid, even as an older toddler, because I was very aware that I was bad at making them. I remember being around 4 and noticing that the way I made myself "smile" looked more like I was trying to bare my teeth and intimidate a Baboon, so I practiced smiling in the mirror.
I also remember that doing this reminded me of Sims practicing their charisma skill in the mirror, which must have partly been where I learned to do it from.
I still am not good at smiling and making other expressions, so I actually don't do it often anymore since it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Sometimes if I notice I really can't do a facial expression (via a picture or something) I'll try practicing it though. I think I still have issues because my problems with proprioception make it nearly impossible to "feel" what my face is doing, so it's hard to learn what equals the facial expression I want to make...
I also remember that doing this reminded me of Sims practicing their charisma skill in the mirror, which must have partly been where I learned to do it from.
I still am not good at smiling and making other expressions, so I actually don't do it often anymore since it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Sometimes if I notice I really can't do a facial expression (via a picture or something) I'll try practicing it though. I think I still have issues because my problems with proprioception make it nearly impossible to "feel" what my face is doing, so it's hard to learn what equals the facial expression I want to make...
Comments
Yes, I have looked at expressions in the mirror over my life span. Probably not at 4 years old though. But I didn't grow up with TV and had no way to get that idea. I don't even think there was a mirror I could reach in the house where I lived until I was probably about 6.
I don't think it occurred to me there was something unusual about the way I looked. I just thought others were misinterpreting me.
In regards to proprioception. I am actually getting worried because my proprioception is getting markedly worse. I can no longer touch my nose with my eyes closed. I noticed the other day when I tried to transfer an object from one hand to the other, and I couldn't see my hands, I was off by a LOT, like maybe six inches or more. I had to find the other arm and then feel my way down.
Now I am so conscious of how aged my face looks, that I study different expressions to try to find the expressions and angles that don't exacerbate the old lumpy face.
Do you exercise enough? I've always heard physical activity and exercise are suggested ways to build and upkeep proprioceptive skills. I think when I don't exercise enough my issues get really bad and I become super clumsy.
Regarding proprioception, I've been trying to find things online that give tips for how to improve it and don't involve exercising, or doing physical tasks that don't really go well with chronic illness/pain, and I've realized that there's not much info like that for some reason. If I manage to find anything helpful I'll link it here...
If you aren't great at making/faking "normal" facial expressions, do you try to mitigate and "fix" that in other ways, or do you not really care and don't bother to try to do that at all?
If you do, what do you do to improve your ability to make "normal" facial expressions?