Why can't you be normal?
My 'normal' is a different operating system, not a broken one.
What it made you think
You are fundamentally broken. Your entire way of being is an inconvenient mistake that you should be able to fix if you just tried hard enough.
The True Story
Your way of being is not a problem to be solved. It is a reality to be understood and supported.
What is happening in your system?
This question triggers a deep, primal shame response. It confirms the core fear of being fundamentally flawed, activating a need to either defend your existence or completely disappear to be safe.
What changes in you...
You begin to heavily mask around this person, censoring your thoughts, needs, and instincts. You share less and avoid situations where your differences might be exposed, creating distance and isolation.
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
That's not a question I can answer.
The Honest Explanation
This is my normal. My brain is wired differently, and I'm working with it, not against it.
Drawing the Line
Please don't ask me that again. It's hurtful and doesn't help either of us understand each other.
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