Posted by jane d on July 23, 2004, at 14:01:27
In reply to Use of dramatic language, posted by Miss Honeychurch on July 23, 2004, at 13:29:30
> Do any of you have problems with this? I made an innocent comment in therapy yesterday that I hated hot weather. So we spent 10 minutes on this. "hate is a strong word, Laurel." But I do this all the time. I dramatize and exagerrate all of my feelings. My T says this is typical of emotionally neglected people. When I was a child I would have to exagerrate everything in order to get parental attention.
>
> Anyway, I find the language thing really hard to break.I think I do the opposite. I tend to understate. And I expect that half of therapists would say that THAT was typical of emotionally neglected children. Perhaps it's a blind spot they have because that's all they see - not the dramatic or low key people who aren't in need of therapy.
Personally I think it's mostly learned much they way you learn a language or social customs. I live among immigrants from many different countries and how dramatic they are does very between groups (and within of course). My style is very much that of my relatives with overlays of the styles of the people I grew up around. I can hear myself getting a little more dramatic with some friends then I am with my family. Just like I will start to pick up the regional accent of anyone I spend time with.
And hate IS a strong word and I HATE hot weather - even when I'm in understated mode.
Jane
poster:jane d
thread:369475
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040723/msgs/369494.html