Disability

[Grandpa Gohan]

Originally posted by Tottepo
I have an undiagnosed condition in which I assimilate the emotions and patterns of others I am around.

Say I met Reb in person, and he was having a bad day. Even if we were exchanging niceties and all, I would be feeling extremely irate and frusterated, even if nothing was going wrong for me at that point and time. Or say I met, umm...Jeroen, and he was really depressed over the loss of a loved one. Even if he did not let on about it, and I never found out, the whole time I was with him I would be feeling a looming sadness that I could not explain, but would feel until hours after us having parted ways.

There are many theories to this. I prefer not to apply labels. It does, however, make for uncomfortable social interaction, even though it's not by far just a simple case of social anxiety. This 'condition' manifested itself when I was 17 years old and has continued being somewhat of a hindrance.

On the flip side, I am able to willingly do this when I interact with others. However, it's not just being able to feel it, as I will assimilate their feelings and actually have to go through it myself.

Does this explain why I hate dealing with hyperactive children? I get easily overwhelmed by those with excess amounts of energy.

I know what you're talking about[because its happened to me], it's supposed to be closely related to Empathy, but I don't know what'd you'd call it[I asked my therapist about it].

O.o You use assimilate so freely, I wouldn't say its 'assimilating' anything, rather people unknowingly project their feelings onto you, this is why I(and my therapist) say it either is, or is closely related to empathy.