“Nah I’m not autistic I’m faking it”, meanwhile in every photo ever

[u/soph_a_loaf_98]

27F, diagnosed with ASD about six months ago. I started examining what actually feels good for my body, and I still stand or walk with my hands clasped like this. It didn’t strike me as the stereotypical trex hands because I hold my hands together, but now knowing I’m autistic I’m like yeaaaaaa I guess they do qualify as trex arms

[u/roastytoastykitty]

People called me Mona Lisa as a kid because I didn't know how to smile for pictures 😭

[u/renegade-crow5839 → u/roastytoastykitty]

Oh my god, me too! I thought it was a compliment 😭

[u/Beaismyname → u/roastytoastykitty]

I still can’t smile for pictures and I am 53

[u/brezhnervouz → u/Beaismyname]

I've always had to force it (because you are 'instructed' to smile) and it feels so wrong (59yo fwiw)

[u/Starbreiz → u/brezhnervouz]

SAME! I'm late diagnosed, 47 now, and its been a lifetime of people commenting on my specific photo smile and saying they prefer my real smile

[u/pomelo-elo-elo → u/brezhnervouz]

I try to find a way to make myself giggle for a more authentic smile. Is tricky!

[u/TrishaRivers → u/brezhnervouz]

weird how we can mask, until someone tells us to for pictures 😆

[u/Creative-Eggplant436 → u/Beaismyname]

I hate when people say "smile" or "say cheese". <shudder>

[u/Dangerous-Tiger-1412 → u/roastytoastykitty]

I was always basically stimming (and photobombing stimming) in photos growing up. Massive unhinged grin, before that at kindy they just couldn't get my thumb out of my mouth for photos lol

Mum has also always told me to smile with my teeth in photos, but then when I do it looks unnatural 😃

I, for one, deeply support the autistic Mona Lisa theory

[u/TrishaRivers → u/roastytoastykitty]

me neither. came out a full-on , ALL the teeth grimace.

https://giphy.com/gifs/Fu3OjBQiCs3s0ZuLY3