Dear T,
I was thinking more about your comment about feeling sadness for me and why I've reacted so strongly to that. My parents should have felt sadness for me when I was struggling. Instead, they seemed annoyed (or indifferent). So I apply that to myself. Instead of having self-compassion. And I expect others, including you, to react that way as well. Your feeling sad for me isn't weird. It's normal. It's the expected* response to someone else being upset. So how do *I* start reacting that way to me?
Love you,
LT


*To use something from my D's school psychologist, the expected vs. unexpected reaction.