I should been more specific, for example, "Disassociation of emotional states from external stimuli, similar to what Xiphias has described in previous LJ posts."
I am particularly thinking of his post from 9/9/04, "So, what is depression like for me?" To quote:
"Because my depression is primarily biocheical in nature, I have gotten used to thinking of emotional states as being entirely distinct from outside events. I rarely think of questions like 'why am I unhappy,' because I've gotten used to there being no cause..."
"I'm beginning to learn that that isn't true. There are times that I get unhappy because bad stuff happens, or happy because good things happen. But I'm not used to thinking that way, so I don't look for causes like that. If someone insults me, or attacks me, and I become upset or depressed, I'm likely to think of those events as entirely unrelated..."
....
One of my first lines of defense against emotional pain is knowing when/where/how/why it happened and working to avoid or prevent it in the future. Xiphias is, apparently, not even aware that unhappiness is the result of an event that could be prevented. It's like watching someone you care about (since I care about Xipias) spend their entire life wandering around a construction site without a hardhat.
I know, or at least I can intellectually deduce, that Xiphias has protection that I can't "see". But it still gives me the emotional willies. And it floors me that Xiphias does not respond to this as a five alarm crisis.
It floors me even more that HE DOES NOT HAVE TO. He can, in fact, function reasonably well without a "hard hat". If I had not seen it I would not have believed it, but I guess nothing is impossible.
On the other hand... given that Xiphias asked what we thought, and that Lis brought up exactly this point... I thought it was appropriate to say that I see this as a problem, and that I think therapy would/could help.
Although I also agree with Mrmorse, when he says, "Two questions for Xiphias: Are you unhappy being dissociated from your emotions? And if not, what can you do about it?"
I know that Xiphias doesn't feel about this the same way I would. And I think he should make his decision based on what works for him. Being dissociated from his emotions is only a problem if he thinks it is... Although I'm aware many people would consider the state he decribes above to be a problem, it's still his choice.
Reply to Juliansinger
I am particularly thinking of his post from 9/9/04, "So, what is depression like for me?" To quote:
"Because my depression is primarily biocheical in nature, I have gotten used to thinking of emotional states as being entirely distinct from outside events. I rarely think of questions like 'why am I unhappy,' because I've gotten used to there being no cause..."
"I'm beginning to learn that that isn't true. There are times that I get unhappy because bad stuff happens, or happy because good things happen. But I'm not used to thinking that way, so I don't look for causes like that. If someone insults me, or attacks me, and I become upset or depressed, I'm likely to think of those events as entirely unrelated..."
....
One of my first lines of defense against emotional pain is knowing when/where/how/why it happened and working to avoid or prevent it in the future. Xiphias is, apparently, not even aware that unhappiness is the result of an event that could be prevented. It's like watching someone you care about (since I care about Xipias) spend their entire life wandering around a construction site without a hardhat.
I know, or at least I can intellectually deduce, that Xiphias has protection that I can't "see". But it still gives me the emotional willies. And it floors me that Xiphias does not respond to this as a five alarm crisis.
It floors me even more that HE DOES NOT HAVE TO. He can, in fact, function reasonably well without a "hard hat". If I had not seen it I would not have believed it, but I guess nothing is impossible.
On the other hand... given that Xiphias asked what we thought, and that Lis brought up exactly this point... I thought it was appropriate to say that I see this as a problem, and that I think therapy would/could help.
Although I also agree with Mrmorse, when he says, "Two questions for Xiphias: Are you unhappy being dissociated from your emotions? And if not, what can you do about it?"
I know that Xiphias doesn't feel about this the same way I would. And I think he should make his decision based on what works for him. Being dissociated from his emotions is only a problem if he thinks it is... Although I'm aware many people would consider the state he decribes above to be a problem, it's still his choice.
Kiralee