Posted by Shortelise on March 31, 2005, at 11:49:24
In reply to Re: Using ME as an example » Shortelise, posted by messadivoce on March 31, 2005, at 0:10:48
Yes, yes, that's absolutely true for me too, that IRL when someone immediately launches into themself when I've told something about me, instead of asking, oh, and then what happened, or, gosh, that's awful, or, wow, what a wonderful experience! Instead they jet off into their own experience as if I hadn't spoken, or as if the 30 seconds it took to explain that my cat just died was enough, and they should tell me all the gruesome stories about dying cats they can think of.
Precisely that happened to me when one of my cats died. I was so sad, it was a tragic death, and people always countered with terrible stories of other tragic cat deaths. It was awful! After that happened a few times, though I had to continue to explain my very evident sadness, I was very clear with people that I didn't want to hear any cat death stories.
Sorry for the tangent. But yes, here it is helpful to me, because it's usually about what I'm going through. IRL, if I say I'm depressed because my cat died in this tragic manner, and the person responds, it can sound like: oh, well, that's nothing compared to blah blah blah. Or it can sound like: I know exactly what you mean - my cat died and I couldn't eat my cookies and milk that day.
Thanks.
poster:Shortelise
thread:477713
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050329/msgs/478136.html