I was a professional ballroom dance instructor my entire adult life until I retired recently. Being able to articulate my thoughts were crucial. Once my older sister said to me think fast and talk slow. If you do not like looking someone in the eyes it is because you haven't practiced looking at people when you talk to them. Why do you avoid eye contact could be many things but I do know it does become a habit. Therefore, you need to change your habit. First, remember you are a perfect person because God does not make mistakes. When I talk to someone I look them in the eyes simply out of respect and that I am proud of who I am. At first it will be difficult and uncomfortable but you if keep trying the habit will change. Here's a question for you. When you get angry at someone do you make eye contact as you let them know how upset you are? Love yourself for who you are do not hate yourself for what you have.

I get words mixed up hopeless at pronunciation etc etc. the only time I am embarrassed is when these things happen in front of drs and co worker who know about what has happened to me and I feel that they are thinking its the brain damage, the epilepsy . That is when I don't look at somone. I believe that I have got the problem. My own stigma about epilepsy and keeping my career is a big one. When I have told people they are shocked as they had never noticed. Even when I am struggling or the floor is swaying or my memory is screwed they laugh and tell me These things happen to themall the time, well not the concrete floor moving like waves loI
I recently had a health assessment and the Dr asked me if I think I have cognition issues. Well I lost it. I explained that all people I know will have memory issues from time to time and problems at time pronouncing words, he then said that He had at times while interviewing Noticed a lot of hesitation looking like I'm trying to find words. That made me even worse! I just told him if there was anyone he knew who didn't do that and I was sick of people who thinks it all because of epilepsy. He smiled nodded in agreement and SHUTUP! Everyone stand tall because I have discovered a lot don't really notice these little hiccups

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member customer service knowledge has helped me communicate. When your talking don't fold your arms in front of you. Put them either side or behind your back. You don't have to make eye contact the whole time when your listening. Look away as if in thought. Try and joke about things it's easy when your both laughing. Don't make prolonged eye contact unless you like the person and are gazing into their eyes with a smile lol. Make a real effort talk and eye contact. Listen not so much eye contact. Pretend it's part of your job talking to this person. Laughing with someone not at someone is the best eye contact is easy then. Don't talk or think about eye contact and you will forget and do it naturally. Look up body language it will help a lot you will also have fun being a people watcher with body language

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A MyEpile...

I used to have a really hard time maintaining eye contact, for a long time I looked at the nose of the person I was talking to, I figured they wouldn't be able to tell the difference, not sure if that actually worked or not.
Sometimes I still definitely feel like people are looking at me strangely when I talk, I mix up words a lot, and will get stuck on words. Due to this I've had a couple people who didn't know me ask if I was drunk. I brush it all off at this point, no sense worrying today about something I can't change today

I don't have trouble communicating with others . Although to clearly get my thoughts out I sometimes have to go think how I want to say it.

If I'm around someone I don't know but a friend or family knows him/her, I would sand bag ( CB Radio term ) , which means That I just sit back and listen. If they come up with a subject that I can relate to I might say my thoughts.