.....sometimes people laugh.

Now, I do try to keep a sense of humor. It's a good coping skill. But there are times when I'm altogether serious, and get laughed at.

Sometimes it's a misguided attempt to de-traumatize. They mean to comfort me, but it comes off belittling and minimizing instead. (hand wave, light chuckle) "Oh, pssh, that's nothing to get upset about." I recognize that they probably have good intentions, but it's really not a good way to react.

What's worse is when I'm in obvious distress over something. I may be talking about how my ex-husband deliberately snuck up behind me and startled me with a snake, knowing I'm afraid of them. Or I may talk about a family member fat-shaming me, or how a group of bullies mocked me. When I talk about it, the person I'm talking to thinks I'm delivering some kind of stand-up comedy routine. Then they catch the look on my face, realize I'm not joking, and may apologize between gasps of laughter, but they can't stop laughing. "I'm sorry.... hehehe.... I know I shouldn't laugh.... hehehe.... but I just think it's funny what he said." (explodes in laughter.)

My inclination when this happens is to decide this person is not my friend after all. It hurts the most when I really, really thought they were. Or maybe even worse, when it's another family member laughing like this at my pain.

Does this happen to anyone else?