Quote:
Originally Posted by golden_eve
((((Hugs))))) Empathy comes from being able to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes, feeling what they are feeling and experiencing what they are. This takes practice, but it can be developed. I agree that you have shown a lot of insight into yourself and it's very admirable that you wish to make some changes. It does seem like you shut down emotionally to protect yourself, which is a natural defense mechanism to past abuse. Opening yourself up to feeling again is making yourself more vulnerable again, but it's possible to be empathetic while also protecting yourself emotionally. You can try to just understand how a person is feeling and show them that you are sympathetic.... words like "I understand how you feel" or "I get it", and "I hear you" are indicative of hearing the person and showing your empathy. Practice practice practice.... it'll come if you work at it. (((((hugs again)))))
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What you say makes sense. I just don't know if I'm ready to be vulnerable. I still have trouble dealing with being hurt and rejected by people. When somebody hurts or rejects me in any way, I get angry and feel like lashing out. Something as simple as seeing a girl that I like with other guys, somebody criticizing me without knowing or understanding me, or somebody not responding to me when I talk to them, are examples of the small stuff that tends to set me off.
It is too overwhelming for me to deal with this on my own right now. I probably shouldn't have made this thread because it might be years before I'm ready to heed some of the advice provided to me here. I can't deal with such strong feelings in the moment when something comes up so I avoid situations that would trigger me, even if it means isolating myself from other people.
I might just have to continue committing to starting my online business and making really good money so that I can use money and power to hide how emotionally fragile and insecure that I am. Doing so seems better than risking being hurt any further by other people or hurting others because I am triggered from something that I shouldn't be triggered from. Doing this seems better than being alone anyways.