Just a colored doodle of a vent I did in my journal.
Gene and I both have a hard time being honest about how our friend's being upset makes us feel because we're afraid that by admitting that a lot of problems being told to us at once puts weight on us or makes us feel too sad (out of empathy, I don't mean "omg quit whining you're being a drag), we'll hurt said friends in the process and they'll be afraid that they're hurting us by venting to us.
It feels selfish to need to take time away because you worry too hard for your friends because you HYPER EMPATHIZE and mirror their emotions exactly when it's not even necessary.
I promised secretkink I would say so when a conversation gets too heavy and Gene promised Guy the same but idk how easy it'll be tbh
Acknowledging your own feelings when someone else is having a bad time feels selfish