Flat affect and trouble speaking when anxious

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I'm unable to use any facial expressions at all when i'm anxious. Even smiling takes a lot of effort. I'll also speak with a monotone voice, and a bit slurred. For some reason I just completely lose control of my face. Very weird and frustrating.

I've had this for as long as i can remember, but it's becoming a major issue because I'm almost always anxious when I'm interacting with people, especially the last few years. Someone even asked me if I'm ret*d because of this not too long ago!

Is this common for people on the spectrum?

I always thought this was just be being miserable, but apparently I experience the same as you do.

I can't really say much other than that, I'm upset with some other things at the moment (not looking for pity, just explaining that I don't really have much else to say right now as mind is elsewhere)

Well I'm not sure about normal, but I experience that as well

Oh hell yes, probably the most common symptom.
Confuses and scares the hell outta NTs.

Try pretending to yourself that you're flamboyantly gay or gregariously blonde while chatting with people.
This helps me a lot and it turns out to not just minimizing my anxiety but really makes social interaction fantastically fun! Seriously. And I'm a pretty butch guy.
Although I keep forgetting to do this for months at a time. =(

Think of Pinky Pie from MLP:FiM or Weird Gay Al from South Park, I sing parts of his song (I'm Super! Thanks for asking!) Really gets me in the mood, men never really think I'm gay (maybe for other reasons) enough to dislike me, and women are much less subtle many openly asking me if I'm gay.
I just answer them candidly, "No," (because that's what they want to hear from me) and I still remain in the -Man: Datable; -Sex Option: Yes -lists.

Last edited by 1401b on 21 Mar 2014, 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I am not diagnosed with aspergers but for me i have a constant grin on my face! I hate it because social situations are by no means a good thing for me, so why do i smile. I have no idea why i do it. Smiling would mean i am happy about talking to this person, but i am actually saying in my head "Get away from me!" I also do a little giggle before i speak. Must make people think they have something on their face!

Don't confuse a lack of expression with a lack of expressiveness, any unchanging smile is a lack of expressiveness and still pretty much fits under the idea of "flat affect."
Meaning, Charliex8, you're not weird, for ASD, you're just doing it girl style. =)

I've been told I speak in a monotone most of the time. In social situations I tend to act like the giddy schoolgirl, talking too fast, too high pitched, and I just can't quit talking once I've started. My lack of inflection and the racing anxiety-induced monologue have been taken as Narcissism and Histrionics.

Same as the OP.
When I'm anxious, I speak in a low quiet voice and my face feels like stone. Botox anyone?
When I'm very comfortable, I often have a high pitch loud voice and my face is expressive.
In high school, my whole body was usually totally numb, like a zombie.

My husband does this, especially in social situations where there is small talk. The more anxious he gets, the more his social skills goes out the window.

He is is fine if the topic is about a specific thing. Politics, science related....but the minute it turns personal, he's doomed. Jay hates talking about himself, and has zero interest in the other people. (Why should I care how their day is going? Who cares if they like Miley. ) Whatever facial expression he had gets dropped, and his voice goes monotone.

He hasn't done well in interviews because of it.

So, this is a common thing.

When i'm anxious a ton of symptoms come out, such as what you described, I lose control of my facial expressions, my voice goes monotonous, I mumble.. etc.

Thanks for the replies!

Lol!! I'll try that next time!!




This happens to me too when my anxiety gets really severe. It's because my face just completely tenses up.
Well, at least it's better than not having any expression at all. People think there is something very wrong with you if you don't smile at all, like me.




Oh I hate small talk!! It's useless and I cant do it at all! I can only talk about specific subjects, just like him. When someone tries to make small talk with me, my mind just goes blank, and I have no clue of what to say.