If you are unable to share certain thoughts or feelings with any other human in any meaningful way, how can a person manage this in a healthy way?
Both psychologically sound and proven methods as well as personal anecdotes are welcome.
Please assume sharing is non-negotiable which precludes close friends, family, and/or professionals.
One thing I want to try is journaling, to start.
Edit: has anyone ever tried to journal but was instinctively unable to write unrestricted? I think I just need to push through this feeling.
Maybe creating art in some form can be a way of processing?
I really appreciate this idea. I’ve always thought I was no good at traditional “art” but perhaps I need to broaden my idea of what will constitute art and what can be made and kept in plain sight.
Making art is not about making “good art” (whatever that means anyway). As long as you enjoy making it or it helps in some other way, it is great. Go and make some shitty art! Or good art. Or weird art. Or whatever kind of art it will be, but don’t be stopped by the idea it has to meet some quality standard.
Thanks, I’ll work towards opening up with myself and trying something
If it’s psychological, really try to talk about it with a professional. That’s what they do. They can handle any kind of story.
If it’s legally dubious, talk to a defense attorney. You can get free legal advice from the ABA.
If it’s something from another realm, you can talk to a catholic priest anonymously behind a screen during Confession. Local times listed at USCCB.
Also, what the others said: Make art! Any kind.
If you say that personal anecdotes are welcome and you seek emotional self-reliance, I have something to share I guess.
Adults can have immersive imaginary companions in a similar way that children sometimes do.
If you spend time on interacting with an imaginary character, two qualities can emerge from this:
- you learn how to think from perspective of this character without putting effort into that. This makes the experience of imaginary companions “talking back” to people.
- you cultivate a relationship with that character that’s like relationship with other people.
There are some internet communities practicing it. You might have heard about tulpas, soulbonds or daemons. Some kids and some writers experience it too, some scientific research mentions “illusion of independent agency”.
I have been practicing it myself for over a decade and can say that I believe that it had a positive impact overall and only positive impact after I unlearned popular tulpamancy and started approaching my inner relationships with more dialectical-materialist mindset.
I personally feel like it can’t be done in a healthy way. It’ll probably be manageable, but I personally think humans are so social that “healthy” is only possible if one is able to share their experience.
Yes I was quite afraid, or maybe just somewhat prepared, that a healthy solution is not possible.
I guess I should note that a minimization of pain is better than nothing. So I’ll take any ideas that are healthy-adjacent at least.
Understandable :) I guess the closest would be to read/listen to experiences of other people feeling/experiencing the same thing as you, which certainly do exist.
Thanks, if I somehow stumble on somebody who mentions even one thing I can relate to, I’ll be sure to listen and absorb what was said.
