[youwillrise]

does anyone have this tendency, when someone is sharing problems they are having, to reply with similar problems you are having? i do this a lot and while i'm doing it my thought process is that theyd appreciate hearing from someone else who is going through it or has gone through it, but then later i feel bad that i was taking away from the other person and making it about me.

i feel like a lot of time i dont give helpful advice to people, but rather spiel about my own issues because i want the attention to be shifted to me...and that sucks. i need to stop that.

[Maranara]

I think what you do is fine as long as it doesn't turn the conversation solely towards you. There is a lot of truth in the old saying "misery likes company"....and that's why most of us are here on this forum to be honest. We feel better when we know others are having similar issues. I think most people don't feel as though you are dumping on them; you are letting them know that they are not alone in their stuggles. Just make sure the focus stays on them and doesn't completely turn towards you.

[*zer0*]

I do this too, and I think most people and that it's a normal interaction. Maybe one way to help prevent yourself from feeling like you're attention seeking is to keep your mentions of related experiences brief, and ask questions about the other person's problems.