"When I asked her about it, my friend admitted that it was partly a ploy to flush out anyone who might indeed be mad at her. The way I deal with it externally is to make a joke about it, she said. And a few people did message me also sort of in jest, but not really to be like Don't worry, I'm not mad at you!'"
"I surveyed my friends about the phenomenon, and it seems common. Some act on the insecurity, asking if they've done something wrong. It's become a running joke, said Cat. Others fret, second-guessing their last interaction or reading into text messages. Lauren said that one- or two-word responses, full stops or use of her name put her immediately on high alert. Even reassuring language can set off these fears. I actually don't think I could even hear No worries' without assuming sarcasm, said Michael."
Many people experience sudden insecurity when friends do not reply or when messages seem curt. This insecurity leads to catastrophizing, imagining that friends actively hate them, and interpreting past appreciation as fake. Factors like tiredness, stress, or premenstrual symptoms intensify these fears. Reassurance-seeking behaviors include joking posts to flush out reactions, directly asking friends if something is wrong, and obsessively analyzing one- or two-word responses, punctuation, or use of names. Even explicit reassurance can be misread as sarcasm. Psychotherapist Meg Josephson notes the feelings are convincing and driven by attempts to alleviate anxiety.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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