shrink shrank shrunk

Interesting discussion with the psychologist today. One thing I’ve recently noticed is that I have difficulty seeing the impact I have on others. It goes beyond thinking that I am an unimportant person or that I am not valued; that’s just self-dislike. In my case I literally can’t perceive that things I say or do are important to others.

Tragicomic scenarios result: Surprise when others are hurt or offended by my behavior, someone explains that a thoughtless remark of mine had some huge impact, etc.

The weirdest bit is that am intensely — unpleasantly — empathic. I’m acutely aware of other people’s emotional state, to the extent that I can’t be around arguments and I avoid a lot of plays or movies. Something that connects the empathy to my own actions is just…missing.

Lots of discussion ensued about the squishy brain parts that are responsible for these connections, and what to do about it using her 21st Century Mesmeric Hypnomancy.

3 thoughts on “shrink shrank shrunk

  1. Possessing the capacity for intense empathy doesn’t automatically guarantee that one will function well or even appropriately in relational contexts. Interpersonal interaction utilizes a separate set of skills and capacities.
    In fact, children with poorly developed social skills sometimes compensate by developing a powerful capacity for monitoring the emotional states of others, as a means of avoiding peer abuse.

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  2. Tragicomic scenarios result: Surprise when others are hurt or offended by my behavior, someone explains that a thoughtless remark of mine had some huge impact, etc.
    My therapist and I noticed that one a while back. Again I sympathize.
    mmm… hypnomancy…

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  3. It goes beyond thinking that I am an unimportant person or that I am not valued; that’s just self-dislike. In my case I literally can’t perceive that things I say or do are important to others.
    Tragicomic scenarios result: Surprise when others are hurt or offended by my behavior, someone explains that a thoughtless remark of mine had some huge impact, etc.

    I hear that. I either can’t fathom that my behavior makes any difference to anyone and thus don’t realize that I am doing something (or not doing something I should) that really hurts someone else. ‘Cause who the hell care what say/think etc.? Or I feel like no matter what’s wrong with someone, it must be fault. Not because I am important but because my natural badness makes it impossible for me to make anything good happen.
    Good luck with the Mesmeric Hypnomancy.

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