Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

I am sure this is not a popular opinion, but is anyone else tired of seeing that pinched face fake smile on Allison?
I am glad she is beating cancer but she is using it as an excuse to get attention, and to not recognize that her problems started LONG before she got cancer. I am sorry but I just want to give her a kick in the behind!

It may not be a popular opinion. However, it is understandable that you would be frustrated by her smile.

Perhaps it would help to understand it this way:

Sometimes, when we see a "fake" smile we feel like the person is deliberately trying to deceive us. In a sense, that is somewhat true with Allison, but it does not likely come from a desire to hurt us or take advantage of us.

As she has said several times, she is "disgusted" with herself in many ways. Her outer demeanor is likely a mask intended to help her feel like she can shield herself from the "disgust" of others. In other words, her "fake" smile betrays her deep feelings about her lack of self worth.

To me, this is more sad than frustrating. Yet it does grab one's attention and make one wish one could forceably remove the smile in order to help her both reveal her true self (which she does not likely see correctly) and allow others to react to her genuinely rather than through her "filter of disgust."

Hey Judy...you are not alone. Her "fake" smile bothers me too. I think what bothers me more than just the smile, is the fact that she keeps it plastered on her face all the time. I know she is not happy and she feels disgusting. I would like to see her become happy to be alive and comfortable in her own skin. Then she could show the world her "real" smile and more importantly mean it!!! Jenn

Hi guys and welcome!

Her smile doesn't bother me as I see it as Allison trying to keep Allison safe - safe from conflict, safe from being attacked - if you thought you were disgusting and gross, wouldn't you expect others to attack you for not being good enough? That's how I see it - self- protection.

It is how she has survived for all these years. IT's the best thing she came up with to make it by in life.

Hello everyone! I am also a lil put off by her (fake) smile. I do feel sorry for her, because of what she has gone through. I see the other women quick to speak out about others, but im not really seeing the ladies or councelors calling her out on certain things. I either see Allison in discussion or in bed napping. I would like for Allison to be put in the hot seat once more to break her out of her depression. I would say even taking up a yoga class, and joining a dating club.

I throughly disagree with all of you on this subject!! Allision is from the south, (n.carolina) and if you have ever lived there or even visited there you would see most everyone walks around with a smile on their face. After all Alley has been through I am totally thrilled that she can still smile, it is not fake!! Dang girls, she loves and cares for everybody. When you smile at another person, 9 times out of 10, they smile back at you. This makes her feel good and positive. Look into her eyes, that is where a real smile is, it begins in the souls and reaches out to the lips to form a smile. Lisa is faking her smiles, cause she doesn't take anything seriously. Allision is as real as the stars in the sky. She has done a trmendous job getting though this ordeal, but you sure don't see her sitting around crying about it. If she is in the bed, she has been told to rest alot and let her body heal. Walk a block in her shoes, then tell me how you feel then, bet you couldn't fake a smile for the tears!