Hey all,

Thanks for your replies. I'm definitely of the opinion that this is 'outside of the norm' rather than just related to me being a self-centred asshole, which is why I sought help here.

A bit more background:
I have worked for charities in the past. In particular, I've worked in addiction services, communicating with and helping those with drug problems. I have managed to feel a lot of emotions in regards to the people I've been helping, have put a lot of effort into the job, and have generally wanted to do my best - out of sympathy (yes!) and a desire to help people. However, when it comes to people I am close to, I have none of this concern. If it's someone I'm close to, I don't want to get involved.

So it's a direct desire not to get involved with people I'm close to when they're experiencing problems. I'm there for the good times, but not the bad - which I'm aware probably makes me seem like a terrible person, but I just can't do it.

I used to visit my grandma regularly. She's recently begun to suffer from severe dementia, and I haven't seen her in 18 months. I have no desire to visit her, now she's suffering.
I live with my parents, but if one of them got ill, I'd try my best to leave as soon as possible, even if it meant moving somewhere within the same town.
Strangers, though? I want to help them.

There's a disconnect there, and I think it may not necessarily be in a lack of sympathy, but more in a fear of closeness - but I don't know. Why would I be sympathetic towards strangers, but not towards friends and family? It doesn't make sense to me. That's why I'm asking for advice - because it is bugging me to heck, and making me feel like I'm a terrible person.

I've never talked to a therapist, though, and this seems like a very odd thing to provoke the start of that. Like, going through the NHS, how on earth would I even manage to talk to someone about that? "Hey, I think I'm a bit of an asshole - can I talk to someone about it?" Nah...