Back before 7cups went to shit I used to volunteer there as a listener, taking chats from peers about their mental health.
A few lines into the chat I’d often get asked if I’m human. “Barely”, I’d think to myself, and then I’d reply with a simple “Yes”.
Sometimes the person would go on to request that I chat with them as a friend, and not as a professional. Which, of course, I’d struggle to accommodate as much as possible while simultaneously trying to explain that that’s just how I communicate 🫠
This is so relatable. I don’t have any advice for you, but I know that for me it has taken a few years to figure out how to cope with this better.
Not that it’s “Mission Accomplished”, but I do feel much better adjusted now. I don’t get as angry as I used to when I am not being heard/understood, and I also don’t try too hard to make others understand me. I just do my best to communicate my thoughts and feelings (whatever that may look like in the circumstances), and leave the rest up to the other person to figure out for themselves.
I’m super proud of myself for having been able to survive in the interim as I gathered whatever skills were needed to get to this level of acceptance. I sincerely hope that you can, too ❤️🩹