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Jun. 3rd, 2020 05:30 pmI find myself getting irrationally frustrated with people who complain about being "touch starved" in the midst of the pandemic. Like crazy, shove down the irritation fast so I don't verbally mock and belittle. I know there's science behind the need for physical human contact; intellectually, it's hard to deny.
But emotionally... I assume the worst, that it's some lazy, "pay attention to meeeee" person without any self-awareness or restraint, someone who needs to be the center of attention and be told they are the Mary Sue of life. I want to talk to them about being in physical isolation for years, despite not looking like it, and about how their selfish need for physical affirmation puts them and others at risk (because I can't imagine they're being safe and mindful about viral transmission).
I know this is defensive projection, and a possible indicator of long buried trauma (complicated, no doubt, in any number of ways by trans and cognitive issues). But knowing doesn't help me resolve it, so I bite my tongue, and try to turn my attention away.
But emotionally... I assume the worst, that it's some lazy, "pay attention to meeeee" person without any self-awareness or restraint, someone who needs to be the center of attention and be told they are the Mary Sue of life. I want to talk to them about being in physical isolation for years, despite not looking like it, and about how their selfish need for physical affirmation puts them and others at risk (because I can't imagine they're being safe and mindful about viral transmission).
I know this is defensive projection, and a possible indicator of long buried trauma (complicated, no doubt, in any number of ways by trans and cognitive issues). But knowing doesn't help me resolve it, so I bite my tongue, and try to turn my attention away.
