// TW: undiagnosed cognitive distortion
I was reflecting on myself, these vague thoughts, such as “I have no friends” and “No one likes me,” actually harm me. They alter my behavior toward myself and others, affecting my ability to form genuine connections, which also involve community and other people. Not just me alone. Other people also want to be heard and to express their individuality, not just me. If I pass away one day, it’s not me who buries myself, but the community.
It becomes a habit if it isn’t already, a very harmful one to be sure. Thinking nobody likes you may inadvertently cause you to keep your guard up, to appear closed or uninterested. This signals people not to interact and thus closing the loop of the self-fulfilling prophecy.
The resulting loneliness is killing.