I’ve felt the same way about fear of reading replies. I suspect the replies are going to be criticizing of me, and I know it’s going to trigger me. I think about it before reading. I ask myself if I want to read the replies because I fear they will cause me an ‘emotional attack’. Then I decide to read them.

Yet, a moment before I jump in, I say to myself that I must be a glutton for punishment. I must be a massochist who wants to be triggered. And I am torn between being bold and brave and being ashamed of my self destructive traits.

Then I always read the replies because curiousity gets the best of me. I can’t resist.

Sometimes the comments trigger me sometimes they don’t, and they are helpful.

So, no risk, no gain.