Does ME/CFS affect facial expressions and voice with negative consequences on social function?

[Hoopoe]

Facial expressions play a role in communicating our emotions to other people, and voice is also important.

Do you think that your ME/CFS affects facial expressions and voice?
If so, do you think that this has negative consequences on social function?

This occurs to varying degrees in muscular disorders. Here's a video of a lady with a muscular dystrophy that affects the facial muscles.

To answer my own question, I think this occurs in my illness but in a fluctuating pattern. Fatigue and what I believe is brain hypoperfusion will affect the facial muscles and voice. And also thinking and ability to communicate effectively. I've had to learn to say something when this happens to let others know and avoid misunderstandings.

 

[Starrynight]

I think this is true for myself but I don't know if it is ME or some pre/co morbid condition I have. I sometimes catch myself in the mirror and it's almost the Parkinsons mask like face. Inexpressive and rather miserable looking, I have no doubt it puts people off wanting to engage with me. As for voice, I have frequently been told over the years that my voice is quiet when I am unaware it is. I do think there can be deep unconscious bias against this characteristic, obviously people don't like it if they can't hear but I suspect some stereotyping happens too.

 

[Kitty]

Mine's affected more by autism, where I have to consciously remember to change my expression if I don't want to look like a Soviet border guard.

The result is that I have an over-expressive face in company. If there's no mirror opposite your seat, you can't know when you're overdoing it. Until somebody takes a reel of photos at an event, and you look as if you're giving your all playing a pantomime dame in every single one of them.

But the mask-like face isn't uncommon. Some people's facial structure makes them more prone to it, and it tends to get worse with age because everything starts to loosen up and head south. If you watch elderly people passing you in the street, they often look either profoundly depressed or bloody furious. The blank-faced ones are probably just reviewing their list of errands, and the cross ones are only frowning because their backs and hips and feet hurt like mad.