Oversensitive To Comments

[Fraser46]

I was in a departmental meeting last week and things were going fine. I was a little stressed but this often happens near the end of the week. My boss made a off the cuff comment, "This document was created by X, I so love your OCD behaviour". The comment was made infront of myself and another 4 of my colleagues, although they all know I have PTSD and are used to my abnormal behaviour. I know my boss didnt mean any harm by the comment and she is supportive but I was really unsettled for the rest of the day. I am just so worried that I am so sensitive to comments, it is just so difficult when I have found it difficult to accept that I am ill and that some of my behaviours aren't normal. I am so dreading work tomorrow and it is stupid because I have a good relationship with my employer and she has been supportive and has made lots of adjustments to help me cope at work.

 

[intothelight]

Half the battle is recognizing the problem and if you find yourself being oversensitive, let it go. I always figured that normal was the setting on the washer and we all have our own personal quirks. Sometimes just accepting and embracing our own quirks makes life a lot less stressful. Its OK just to be you.

 

[Friday]

The part to focus on:

I so love....

As in she was complimenting you.

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

Although I understand why you would carry this around, I think letting go is great advice.
Somebody I love told me "stay crazy" once jokingly (also knows I have PTSD) and it kind of bothered me for a while but he meant it in a good way, so I didn't react. And now I just don't care anymore. :)

 

[shimmerz]

I so love your OCD behaviour".

I read this a different way. I think the below quote means that she doesn't feel like she has to treat you with kid gloves, thereby making the comment quite a compliment. Perhaps you aren't as 'noticably abnormal' as you think.

it is just so difficult when I have found it difficult to accept that I am ill and that some of my behaviours aren't normal.

 

[WillyKat]

It was not the wisest thing to say, but you have to know that they don't have any way of comprehending how sensitive we are. And when it comes down to it, our not normal perspectives I believe can have a positive effect on those around us. Look at the mess the "normal" people have gotten us into.

Let me tell you about a friend of mine. Many years ago, I wrote letters to some family members and several friends telling them of my trauma and its effects, and so on. My shrink at the time asked me to think about each and every one of them and try to predict how they would react. It was a useful exercise. About this one friend I predicted that he would come back with the rudest, crudest, most politically incorrect response one could imagine. I wasn't disappointed. Trigger Warning: He wrote back "well, I guess there can't be any more jokes about anal intercourse."

I laughed my ass off. I never knew his story, only that it was painful. So all this was his way of showing support.

 

[Neverthesame]

I think it's normal for anyone who has psychological issues to be sensitive to any comments about our behaviour, positive and negative. We are told that there is something wrong with the way we think and act. Whilst this is true, we are not given any concrete examples of what "normal" is supposed to look like. So we have nothing to go on other than what we see in others and what we feel is right. When things in our lives are going well, it's easy to become complacent to how others perceive us. We start to feel as though we are blending in, validating our desire to be recovered, better, normal again. So when someone from our crowd that we feel we're blended with so effectively, comments on a behaviour we exhibit, one easily tied to a "disorder". The fantasy of normality is shattered and the painful truth of mental illness re-asserts itself.

That, is at least. My own opinion, as to why that comment bothered you so. I may be being a tad presumptuous. No offense intended. I get carried away with myself sometimes haha.

I do personally agree with the people above me, that it does sound like your boss was paying you a compliment.

 

[Fraser46]

Thank you everyone,I think I was just over-reacting, things are just difficult at the moment and ofcourse this is just making me more sensitive.