After a decade of CPTSD, it's like I forget how to smile and feel happy around others, any advice to get that spark back?

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So this will be a longggggg story short.

CPTSD formed between 14-20. It led the way for my 20s. Sh*t show.

30s. Doing much better. Life is way healthier. Got professional help. EMDR. Schema. IFS. Things like this alongside the typical excercise, meditation etc.

Yet I moved to an entire new country a few years ago to start fresh.

I don't have anything holding me back and I work online for myself. Good riddance to the past lol.

But along this path I've done a lot of work on myself and it's good but I've isolated.

Now when I'm around people it's like so fake to smile. I just have a total resting man b*tch face. Like stern. I want to be child like. Free. Joyful again.

I feel happy a lot. I laugh loudly at home by myself if I see a funny video. Things of this nature.

But outside I'm way stiffer. On edge almost.

Anyone got advice for that?

Posted Jul 10, 2026, 5:50 PM UTC

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