No one understands me

[FriendlyShadow]

Ok, well what happened today was that my counselor wanted to give me a worksheet about my social anxiety and how I can help overcome my problem. I was then going to my art class with my dad and he wanted to know what the worksheet my counselor gave me was about. I explained to him it was just tips like it said on my worksheet (examples it said were being nervous is natural form most people and that we shouldn't judge that it's a bad thing or it may become worse when we talk to people, and told me how to breathe properly and relax my muscles so I won't feel tense talking face to face with people or groups) So he didn't say anything after that. But then later on when we were half way to my art class he said "Okay, well at least you have something that's going to help your problem." And then he said "But Jamie, even if Mom, me, and you are eating dinner at the kitchen table, you really don't talk much. You shouldn't have to wait for us to talk to you. At least bring up conversations like What you learned in school or art class or anything, you know?" So then, I had to turn my head towards the window because I could feel those tears coming in my eyes so he wouldn't notice but that didn't work. He got angry and said "Are you kidding me Jamie?! You're going to do this now! I wish you would stop being so d*mn sensitive.(I'm not as emotional now as I was as a child though) I should just take you home since your on the verge of tears. You're getting upset just because I said I wanted you to talk more. How is that so bad? I do get annoyed when you do that now pull yourself together." That made me even feel more worse and bad because I feel like this terrible person and now it already makes me feel more ashamed that I have this stupid disorder. I'm not trying to be emotional to annoy my dad, but it's something I can't help when I feel horrible inside. I try not to do it, but it doesn't work. I think it's different because he and my mother don't get over emotional so easily so they think it's some kind of annoyance I'm putting them through. I just don't like when I'm being a victim of something that I can't control. I don't think my parents understand me well enough because they can't comprehend the situation I'm in. I know they love and care about me, but I don't think they're fully comprehending me because neither of them have that social anxiety. Nether of them get emotional like I do. I don't think either of them understand the way I am. I don't think they'll know what it feels to be like me and be placed in my shoes. I feel like no one understands my problems, I think they just tell me what I want to hear. I don't know what to do.::

 

[Srijita52]

I'm sorry that happened. Sometimes its hard for others to understand when they aren't going through the same situation. I'm way too sensitive as well and it sometimes annoys people who aren't but there's nothing wrong with being emotional. It looks like your dad's having a hard time to see your problems from your point of view. My parents act the same sometimes.

 

[psych]

The really tough part of it is that they want you to be able to just jump into life & be comfortable with that. You want that too.
Yet you aren't able to do that.

Nobody can push your buttons like your parents. To this day, I still have to take a breath and remove myself from my mother's company at times...

Maybe try to calmly remind Dad that you'd like that too, you're taking baby steps toward that goal, but just aren't there?

It occurs to me that he probably shouldn't be pressuring you on your way to class like that. Doesn't sound like ideal timing.

It really is difficult for many adults to understand this affliction.

Sounds like Dad misses you from before you were suffering from this. In a way (from an outside perspective) it's kind of sweet. I hope he can be more patient in the future.

Perhaps your counselor can provide an informative handout for Dad!

I hope things improve for you!