Venting Example of confusing human interactions

[NoFancyNames]

I don't really know how to title this, I just got to get this out somewhere.

I work in a setting where I kind of take care of people.

Anyway, this person as I was going through some routine stuff with them, just grabbed my arm and looked straight into my soul and told me that I need to take care of myself, cause I look exhausted. It was weird and out of place, but also made me feel seen, like that person was trying to show me care, I wanted to hug them. It was weird. I brushed it off, we continued with the reason the person came to see me.

The situation became weirder as they ended up touching me inappropriately, not in an aggressive or sexual way but definitely out of line and without consent and super fucking weird. I did got myself out of that situation but I froze initially and didn't react quick enough, they tried to force me to stay still and kept touching me. It was meant to help according to them.

It was odd and uncomfortable. Turned into conversation and then they left. During that conversation the person kept giving me advice on getting better sleep etc.

Now I'm a mess cause I have c-ptsd and this situation definitely was a trigger. Yet at the same time I've felt seen first time for months. It was like a glimpse of genuine empathy.
I've been struggling so much, and trying so hard to get better and this weird person who kind of violated me, actually seemed to see me and was trying to help I think. While the man that claims to love me is just ignoring me and I don't really understand why.

Just needed to put it out there. Life is weird. People are weird.

 

[timf]

In the 1960s I knew a guy that told me he and his roommate had a strange encounter in their ground floor apartment in Haight Ashbury in San Francisco. He said they were sitting at their kitchen table and the window was open above the sink. A guy climbed in over the sink and sat down with them. He announced that there were three ages of mankind and that the present age was the cartoon age. He then opened their bottle of ketchup and drank some. He then left the way he had come in. Both guys thought it might have been a hallucination, but at the time they weren't high and they had both seen it. They concluded it probably happened but were mystified as to why.

There can be bizarre encounters in life the mystery of which may never be known. However, in this case it may have revealed to you a sort of isolating bubble around you that is not often exposed or penetrated. This sort of bubble can be protective or restrictive. If this encounter has revealed to you a distance between you and this man, it may be that he has perceived that you may want a distancing. You might want to consider if you want something closer or not and have that conversation.

 

[NoFancyNames]

In the 1960s I knew a guy that told me he and his roommate had a strange encounter in their ground floor apartment in Haight Ashbury in San Francisco. He said they were sitting at their kitchen table and the window was open above the sink. A guy climbed in over the sink and sat down with them. He announced that there were three ages of mankind and that the present age was the cartoon age. He then opened their bottle of ketchup and drank some. He then left the way he had come in. Both guys thought it might have been a hallucination, but at the time they weren't high and they had both seen it. They concluded it probably happened but were mystified as to why.

There can be bizarre encounters in life the mystery of which may never be known. However, in this case it may have revealed to you a sort of isolating bubble around you that is not often exposed or penetrated. This sort of bubble can be protective or restrictive. If this encounter has revealed to you a distance between you and this man, it may be that he has perceived that you may want a distancing. You might want to consider if you want something closer or not and have that conversation.

That is a truly bizarre encounter. Funny though.

Thanks for your advice. It is very useful. And I have had conversation. Things are looking more hopeful.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I've had a similar experience with friend's Mums and even work colleagues in the past. I thought I was doing a reasonable job of putting on a happy face but, they could see through it. It is an odd scenario. Kind of shocking and embarassing- I usually end up crying but still- it's certainly nice that people care enough to notice.

It does sound weird that they tried to touch you but, I suspect they felt so strongly that they wanted to make a connection with you. Maybe thry thought they were some kind of healer!

It's kind though. I did a brief bit of care work and some people would notice I looked worried or, rushed off my feet. It's nice when people are kind.