You had me all the way to the end of your post, Mocha....until the look in the mirror thingy. If I want to sleep well at night, I try not to see what I really look like in the mirror..

ya see? thats the thing. I normally wouldnt give a single hoot what someone else thought, or what their opinion was, as long as I live honestly, openly, and with integrity. Why is it that during flare ups I do? is it an MS thing? is it a brain chemistry thing? is it a depression thing that comes from having a chronic disease? its so out of character for me that I figured it just had to be an MS thing.

It does make me feel better that others noticed they do it too. Im sorry any has to do it, but its always better when you dont feel so alone.

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Thank you for this thread, it is so good and I am relating to it especially right now! I think we do lose some of our confidence when we have a flare or our fatigue takes over. I seem to focus on what others think way too much and will even overcompensate and come across different than my usual self. I actually don't like myself this way at all, I miss the confident, easy me! I'm going to get some help to get back to it. I also feel as if others don't trust me, because I say or do things that seem hypocritical, but that's because I can't communicate very well at times and just don't finish what I'm saying, or one day can't go for that walk but can the next, or can't go out shipping but can the next. So those who don't u derstand think your lying to them to put them off. Or using MS as an excuse, when that is never ever the case.
It is important to get Counselling I think when this starts to happen too much, at least for me, I don't want to lose too much of my confidence permently, so I'm making an appointment. I find I'm even speaking in a higher pitch?? Trying to sound nice?