Someone posted an article on things narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths do to manipulate the people in their lives. We have only one mutual friend. She and I argue a lot and I don't doubt that she probably vents to him; they're good friends, so why not? So when he tagged her (and only her), paranoia kicked in. Is this about me, I wondered. Is this what he thinks of me? Does he secretly hate me? Do they regularly talk about me and what a bad person I am? All this time he's being kind to my face, is he telling her to ditch me? Is he only around so he can watch me and have something to bash on behind my back? The stress hit, then the physical pain began. I'm not supposed to get worked up, I reminded myself. It's bad for my health right now. But I can't let it go. It's all I can think about. I'm constantly stressing about how people see me and what they're doing/saying when I'm not around. I'm always thinking that they're talking badly about me and laughing at me.
I'm not that way...
I tell other people to give me the benefit of a doubt. That's because I'm a fairly straightforward person. If I don't like you, I'll tell you. If I have a problem with you, you'll know. I say things to your face. I'm pretty obvious with how I feel about you. If it's not obvious, don't assume because it's almost always not what you think. Don't assume I'm laughing at you or making fun of you; if I am, there will be zero doubt because it'll be so very obvious. I'm that easy to understand when it comes to how I relate to you personally.
People are inherently evil.
But other people? Not so much. They're sneaky and two-faced. In my life, people I've thought were friends were just using me. As soon as I was no longer useful to them, they treated me like shit and left me - often out of the blue when nothing was wrong. They've laughed at me, talked about me behind my back, gotten together in groups without me to hang out and talk about me, dated people I liked just because I liked them, spread rumors, and worse. That's why I can't bring myself to give them the benefit of a doubt. I know I would never do that. It would go against my core beliefs and make me hate myself. It's almost physically impossible to do that. I can't understand how others so easily do it. I have no doubt it's just the evil of human nature.
I want to be...
People are just evil, myself included. Only difference, I don't want to be. I want to be someone good, useful. I want to be the kind of person people seek out. I want to be a person that no one wants to cross and everyone wants in their corner. I want to be someone that no one can really speak badly of because I only act rationally, reasonably, and with the best interests of the individual and/or bigger picture in mind. I want to be the person that is trusted to lead and protect, to make the tough decisions. I want to be relied on and admired.
Are you talking about me?
In discussions with my group, there was posed the question of why paranoia exists. Is it useful? Is it necessary? Paranoia serves its purpose in some ways. It's good to have a healthy amount of distrust. If Caesar had more paranoia, perhaps he would've seen Brutus's knife coming a mile away. All leaders must have paranoia; it helps them be wary of those around them for purposes of survival. But even the common folk should be paranoid sometimes. Is that stranger looking at me too long? Is that man following me? Is that person armed? These are all good survival tools.
But how does wondering if someone is talking about me benefit me? How does obsessing over what people are thinking of me help? I thought about this a lot after that group session.
- What is important to me?
- What would life be like if I was generally disliked?
- What would happen to me if my image was compromised or tarnished?
After a long look, I realized...
Image is important to me. After years of neglect, abuse, and general misery... Why wouldn't I want to be a beloved figure? I felt so helpless for so long, just emotionlessly allowing the tumultuous waves to throw me about and drag me under. When I finally discovered the strength to struggle, I found the ocean wasn't empty. Other people were being tossed about and drowned.
Those who suffer together are bonded together. Those who bear the same burden become brothers and sisters united. These people, these drowning people, were the same. They were mine.
- Image: I want to be seen as someone strong, someone who can make tough decisions and help others. I want to be seen as a reliable, rational protector. When they are drowning, I want them to look over and see me. I want them to reach out and take the hand I'm offering.
- If I was disliked... Then what use would I be? If people disliked me, I could never achieve greatness. I could never mean anything and the world wouldn't mourn if I died. No one would trust me, no one would want my help, and I would be nothing more than a bad taste on the tongue of anyone that spoke my name. I would be as good as worthless. I need love, admiration, friendship, and trust to survive...
- If my desired image is ruined... I would likely die. I would just give up. I need to be needed. I want to be wanted. I have to be great and do amazing things. I have to be important to people to find meaning in my life. It's all that keeps me alive right now. But why can I not handle people relying on me and venting to me right now? Because I'm still at risk for suicide. My image and perception of worth is still being rebuilt, still more fragile than glass. I'm still recovering from the blow I was dealt, still picking up the pieces and gluing them back together. Every time I have tried to kill myself, it's because I felt that my image was gone and I was disliked. The reason for my existence was taken away. There was no point in continuing life if I wasn't admired, loved, looked up to. There was no reason to draw breath if I wasn't important and needed. Why keep struggling against those waves if no one will take your hand? What reason is there to keep fighting if everyone around you keeps drowning? What is the point of existing if you can't be loved, if you can't inspire hope and help others?
Might as well sink.
Is that post about me? Does he think I'm a bad person? Am I not fighting hard enough against what I am? Are my efforts going unnoticed? Will no one take my hand?
Might as well sink...
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