I do sometimes pull and shut down from T. Usually it is when she has touched on a painful subject. I don't know how much she recognizes it because I continue to talk to her but I will only tell facts and will completely minimize my feelings and emotions. Even if she says "what are you thinking right now" I might make something up. A few times she has mentioned that I am closed emotionally by my body language (crossed arms). Shutting down is in no way intentional I think it is something I learned to do as a child in order to protect myself.

Also T also realizes that words can definitely shut me down even if they weren't intended the way I interpreted... For instance one time pcp mentioned that she could understand why I am stressed out because I have two boys with behavioral issues. I took that as they are bad and trouble makers...what she MEANT was that I have two boys with ADHD and while they are very well behaved it has taken A LOT of work to get them there and well ADHD falls under behavioral health... I talked with T for a while about this as I had such a great relationship with pcp but pulled away because I felt like she was putting my boys down.

As far as everybody else I tend to do react this way. I often misinterpret things as meaning them I am to much for people to deal with so they are going to walk out (like my dad did). However, I never say anything to people other than to vent to hubby.