I’m someone who craves (and thrives) on intimacy and closeness. I’m never been afraid to be vulnerable (I’d actually had to learn that I shouldn’t be vulnerable with everyone). I love it when someone is really passionate about something, even if that thing bores me to tears. I love hearing about peoples’ hopes, fears, dreams, opinions…

But I often feel like people hold me at arm’s length. Like they say, “OP, I like you, you’re interesting, but stay right there.”

And it doesn’t seem like it’s a matter of following the “relationship journey” either. It seems like eventually I hit a wall of someone not wanting me to come any closer. And it hurts.

Being neuroatypical I do realize I have an intense personality so people may not know how to interact with me. That may be part of it.

Anyone else experience this? How do you cope?

  • girl
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    1 year ago

    This is how I operate. I have ADHD and CPTSD, I already have a hard time being a good friend to my two close friends. There are several people I like enough that I think we could be good friends, and they’ve tried getting closer to me, but I know I won’t be able to be there for them. It feels best for us both that I just keep it casual until I feel that I have room in my life (which may never happen unfortunately).