It's all in your head.
My body is screaming, and you're telling me the fire isn't real.
What it made you think
My reality is being denied. I am either broken, lying, or completely delusional.
The True Story
What you feel is real. Your body is a reliable narrator, even if others don't yet speak its language.
What is happening in your system?
The immediate instinct is to either shut down completely or to escalate in an attempt to prove the experience is real. Hearing this feels like a fundamental challenge to your perception of reality, triggering a need to defend your own sanity.
What changes in you...
Over time, this teaches you to stop sharing your internal state with this person. You learn to hide your distress to avoid the exhaustion of having to defend its existence.
How can I navigate this in the moment?
A few ways to respond when this lands. Take whichever feels right, or none at all.
The Low-Battery Out
Okay. I hear you.
The Honest Explanation
My brain is part of my body. What's happening in my head is a real, physical experience for me.
Drawing the Line
I understand you're trying to help, but I'm not up for a debate about my experience right now.
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