Maybe it's because I'm in a severe state of depression right now. I have a medical issue going on with my hands and wrists, and so I'm not medically cleared to work, which is causing me a lot of stress. I'm not supposed to type, so I'm glad I can use voice to text on my phone to make these posts.

Even with all that going on, though, I think the interpersonal skills that I'm about to talk about should be worked on.

For example, if I accomplish something I was struggling with, and someone gushingly tells me, "I'm so proud of you!" Obviously they mean it well. But it comes off as condescending for reasons I can't quite figure out. For one thing, I didn't do it to make them proud. I did it for my own reasons. I don't live my life for their approval.

Maybe these things wouldn't bother me if I weren't already terribly depressed. But they do bother me, and people are going to say them, thinking they're saying good things, and if I utter a word about it, then I'm the one being negative.

Any tips for how to deal?