How do you deal with negative interactions?
You can explain to me like I'm 5 because I'm really trying my best to understand and improve my feelings and canalizations.
How do you deal, in a healthy way, when people diminish, ignore or mock when you open up and share an issue or feeling? The situation is among inner circle and even therapists.
@SaddyMary
I find it depends on circumstance and the people. “Grey rocking” is a method that has served me well in workplaces. If you’re forced to interact with someone who you wish not to, you keep responses bland, neutral, and inoffensive as possible. For example, if someone is approaching you with foul mood? Don’t engage with negative comments or affirm their sentiment, respond neutrally with head nods, switch the conversation slowly to something else (talking about the weather, smile and nod, keep interactions minimal, etc.)
Goal is to keep responses dull and boring. People mistake the method as silent treatment (which is very different and passive-aggressive; can lead to escalation— don’t do that), but you don’t entertain whatever the other person is dragging you into. If it gets to the point of frustration or if it seems they’re hounding you, keep distance when possible and charge on.
I hope you’ve been able to find methods that have worked since posting this. Sometimes all you can do is cry it out and feel angry once you’re in a safe place to do that, that has also helped me.