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eemameem1230
Butterfly
Butterfly

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Joined: 16 Apr 2015
Posts: 10

03 May 2015, 1:04 am

Hey --

My issue has been that I often get overwhelmed with friendships and closeness overall, generally resulting in me pushing people away.

I remember all the passive-aggressively harmful things I have said to people that kind of announce the message, "get away from me," and looking back I feel bad. I really am trying to improve how I see people in my life. I'm trying to appreciate the people who are caring towards me more, and to value/foster friendships more carefully. I really do feel more open and affectionate towards those people, and I regret what I did in the past.

Somehow a few of them have stuck around, and I almost feel too guilty or ashamed of myself when I interact with them. They must see all of these flaws and dark spots when they see me now, or so I assume. I want to trust that they forgive me, but I don't even really forgive myself.

Any thoughts?



dryope
Toucan
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Joined: 15 Jan 2015
Age: 46
Gender: Female
Posts: 281
Location: head in a book

03 May 2015, 9:46 pm

I don't have anything constructive to add, but I hear you. I definitely feel this way.

But you are allowed to grow and change, so you shouldn't let your past define you. Especially in your own head -- the one place you are totally allowed to be yourself.

So I guess I'm saying -- give yourself a break, maybe. Forgive yourself and let yourself move forward. It's the only thing you have power over.

It's hard to do, but there are ways to get yourself to accept it. One way is to keep a journal where you write a letter to yourself for each event that bothers you. If you can get a lesson from these, that puts a positive spin on it and lets you accept the idea of forgiveness. What price did you pay and what did you learn? Do you need to apologize to someone now or take any other action? Then close the episode as a past chapter in your life and move forward.

It's tough, but lots of colored pens, stickers/washi tape, or other stationery porn can help you enjoy the process.

But this is just one way -- you probably have your own way that would work best for you.


_________________
Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder 19 June 2015.


Neon Noir
Blue Jay
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Joined: 12 Mar 2015
Posts: 89

04 May 2015, 12:29 am

I feel a lot of similar things. I guess that it's Schopenhauer's Hedgehog Dilemma.

Quote:
A number of porcupines huddled together for warmth on a cold day in winter; but, as they began to prick one another with their quills, they were obliged to disperse. However the cold drove them together again, when just the same thing happened. At last, after many turns of huddling and dispersing, they discovered that they would be best off by remaining at a little distance from one another. In the same way the need of society drives the human porcupines together, only to be mutually repelled by the many prickly and disagreeable qualities of their nature. The moderate distance which they at last discover to be the only tolerable condition of intercourse, is the code of politeness and fine manners; and those who transgress it are roughly told—in the English phrase—to keep their distance. By this arrangement the mutual need of warmth is only very moderately satisfied; but then people do not get pricked. A man who has some heat in himself prefers to remain outside, where he will neither prick other people nor get pricked himself.


By no means am I telling you to cut ties, but in the end, that's what I've had to do. When faced with past mistakes, it's easy to gloss over the mistakes others have made. I'm also not saying to get into a blame cycle, but to recognize that people are people, and that sometimes we are incompatible in spite of our best intentions. Sometimes we need to know when to let go. If you're able to work with others without causing too much distress to yourself or them, then go for it. I suppose it takes a whole lot of self-honesty and introspection either way.

I like dryope's journaling idea and I may actually try it myself. In some ways, responding to posts like these is also therapeutic. Best of luck in finding your way, just remember to be as kind to yourself as you would like to be toward others.