I rarely want anyone's sympathy. The only exception to that is sympathy I might get from more distant acquaintances about a death in the family or something. I guess I don't feel much need for it. I mean, I know whatever is going on in that moment sucks, so I don't really need people to pity me, and sympathy often comes off as just pity. I saw a few T's (very briefly) who seemed to exude sympathy ("Oh, poor thing"). Just a huge, insincere turn-off.

Empathy is more what I need and appreciate from my therapists and pdoc. That ability to not feel sorry for me, but instead, to have a sense of understanding that goes more deep that surface level sympathy and an "I'm sorry you feel bad"-- to know that, even though they haven't personally experienced what I am going through, they recognize and validate that it is very real for me, that I need to be heard and that my experience is worthy of a certain respect, that it is complex and won't be fixed by a pat on the back or a hug alone, that they recognize this will take time and that it's okay to be feeling whatever the heck it is I am feeling.