Criticism

Why speak to your friends over the phone and be told they are busy when you didn't know that and to take that comment as criticism

[mom483]

It's so frustrating! Communication is difficult at best, but when you are not face to face with someone, you can interpret their reply so differently than it was intended.

For years I thought I was being sarcastic, my kids, whom I am very close to, thought I was being serious! I never knew. I have to remind myself to over exaggerate when I am being sarcastic or just tell them outright that what I am about to say is pure sarcasm!

There are times when I have to ask my daughter what someone meant and she has to remind me not to think too much about it. Take it at face value.

I think depression and anxiety makes it worse. For example, when someone says ,

"I'm busy."

I interpret it as ,

"WHAT DO YOU WANT? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY?!"

or

" (huge sigh) I don't have time for you! I'm busy with important things!"

Remind yourself what the words are. Not what you interpret them to mean.