It’s not Resting Bitch Face. I’m not bitchy just because I’m not laughing or smiling. I don’t need to earn your approval and/or affection with fake facial expressions when I don’t feel like it.
Don’t tell me to smile. Say something worth smiling about.
And yes, I have leftover childhood issues that make me a little trigger happy over this.
My mom used to pester me about my relaxed face.
“Are you mad at me?”
No just reading.
…
“Are you sure you aren’t mad at me?”
Nope, just sitting here.
…
“Are you sure you aren’t mad?”
I’m mad now, thanks. Are you happy now?
I learned recently that people who have been in abusive relationships with people who get mad and attack out of nowhere associate neutral face with uncertainty and unpredictable anger bursts. So neutral to them feels really scary and they’d rather you were just mad. So they set that in motion because it’s predictable and not as scary.
Wish I knew that a long time ago.
I don’t just obey every stranger on the street when they tell me to do something. So say something funny or cool if you want me to smile or laugh. It’ll work better.
Brook Art Human. A story, a yarn, a line, a shape 
Let’s Talk!