Am i selfish or do i not feel emotions properly?

38% Normal
17 Comments

My friend's dog died today and I couldn't bring myself to care about it. She told me how sad she was and I said I was sorry for her loss, but I'm just glad the conversation was through text or she probably would have been insulted by how cheerfully I was singing along to my music.
When my mother tried to kill herself when I was 12, my 10 year old sister cried for days while I didn't shed a tear.
My parents split up when I was 16 and after my mom told me, she kept coming into my room and telling me how worried she was about me. I didn't think their divorce would be much of a difference in my life. It didn't bother me. I went about my life as normal.
My dad moved out and always sends me messages saying how much he misses me, and I reply with the same because that's what you're supposed to do, but I don't understand what 'missing someone' even feels like.
Friends on the internet talk about suicidal feelings, self harm, emotional troubles, or body image issues, and it just makes me feel annoyed with them.

One of my friends was killed by her eating disorder, and all I felt was slight relief... simply because her voice had been starting to annoy me.

I would definitely like my friends and family to be happy, but I can't bring myself to care if they're miserable. I think other people's emotions are very extreme compared to mine and sometimes get paranoid that they must be faking it, even though I know they would have no reason to do so.

My friends say I'm very comforting to talk to when they're sad, which confuses me because I really hate when they get all emotional on me and do whatever I can to drive them away without being outright insulting.

I feel a bit guilty for not feeling worse about things like these.

Is there something wrong with me or is it normal (or just being selfish) to feel like this?

Voting Results
38% Normal
Based on 39 votes (15 yes)
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Comments ( 17 )
  • RapidlyRotatingPanda
    10 years ago

    What are you? An oyster?!
    Because they're shellfish too!

    Nah but seriously I didn't even read the post.

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      Hahaha, you funny motherfucker.

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  • highrider
    10 years ago

    You may be a sociopath. Sounds bad, and it kind of is. But you can't feel empathy, or the pain of others.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    I don't know if it's normal or not but I don't think it's a bad thing either. I'm not very emotional either and have a hard time understanding why people react so intensely to things. None of what you said makes you a bad person. Bad actions are what make someone a bad person. Some people just aren't emotional so as long as you don't use it as a reason to go do bad things you'll be alright.

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  • Thatguy777
    10 years ago

    You're definitely a sociopath. I'm not sure if it's something that happened in your childhood that made you feel this way or if you were born that way.

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      You can't make a diagnosis off this post alone. Sociopathy is very hard to diagnosis. There's more to it than not being emotional. Even a psychologist cannot diagnosis someone over the internet.

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    • DragonQueen
      10 years ago

      Can you tell that I have Borderline Personality Disorder?

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      • RoseIsabella
        10 years ago

        Not really, how about me?

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        • DragonQueen
          10 years ago

          No, You don't seem to be as Loca as I. You seem more together. You mentioned earlier that you have a Career. People with BPD have a trouble holding jobs. And Getting along with other people. You get along with almost everyone on this site. Whereas, I am constantly fighting with people. It's part of the disorder. Im not really a bitch. But to most people, it makes me come off looking like one. I don't know how much you know about it. But again, you don't appear to have it. It's not a pleasant thing.

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          • RoseIsabella
            10 years ago

            Thanks, I used to have a job in radio broadcasting which was my field of study. Now I'm self employed as a very part-time English tutor.

            My therapist says that BPD is related to having a sensitivity to adrenaline. Another way of referring to Borderline personality disorder is Emotional Intensity disorder. People with BPD aka EID experience very intense emotions compared to the average person. It can feel like a roller coaster without the fun; having the chills without the thrills.

            Doing cognitive behavioral therapy with a good therapist can be a great help. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) are two very effective forms of Cognitive Behavioral therapy. I have been through the STEPPS program twice, once privately and once as part of a class with two other Borderlines. It was a really good experience for me. I would like to eventually try Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), however my therapist doesn't do that form of CBT.

            Also, despite the negative stereotypes about BPD it's not as hopeless as others, even some professionals, would have one think. Treatment for BPD is not so much about taking medication as in the case of Bipolar disorder but about learning coping skills and how to use tools to challenge old ways of thinking. Sure, I take Cymbalta for depression and chronic pain; I also take Klonopin on an as needed basis for anxiety and panic attacks. Learning how to relax and self sooth is hugely awesome skill for those living with BPD as well as anyone living with stress and anxiety.

            Have you ever heard of making something called a self soothing kit?

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    "One of my friends was killed by her eating disorder, and all I felt was slight relief... simply because her voice had been starting to annoy me."

    Damn, thats cold.

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  • pacinoharmon
    10 years ago

    Wow Idk...if you're concerned about this, maybe you should see a mental health doctor.

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  • RoseIsabella
    10 years ago

    You might have Schizoid personality disorder?

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  • Derpinism
    10 years ago

    narcissists lack empathy, but I wouldn't make any diagnosis

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