Carolyn Hax: What’s with “see a counselor” vs. having some sympathy?
During the worst of the pandemic, however, if I expressed even a smidgen of sadness or anger, several of them replied with: “Well, you need to see a counselor.”
It has made me wonder how I can even be friends with them. It also is making me feel as if I need to be more introverted to protect and care for myself. Which, at the same time, I know can’t be a great thing.I don’t want to talk to them now, and I know that by not reaching out, I may also be making the problem worse. But I don’t know how to be a friend to someone when it feels as if they cannot even try to be kind. And I don’t know how I will make it without a friend.
If any of these points is the case, then it would be a kindness to yourself and your friends to get the help of someone professionally qualified to help you with these “painful life experiences” now and going forward.