Hello, question asker!
I'm Si Meng'er, the respondent. I see that you say you know where your problem lies. Whenever you get annoyed, you read a book on healing or psychology. You don't answer the phone when your parents call. It seems that when you encounter a problem, you will first choose to avoid it. Not answering the phone when your parents call is avoiding it, and reading a book when you're annoyed seems to be solving the problem, but in reality it's also avoiding it. It's like when the teacher is in the classroom, you study, but when the teacher leaves, you stop studying. Could I ask you whether you're really studying?
I don't believe that to be the case. Perhaps reading a book is a way to avoid the annoying emotions.
Evasion can be a way to solve problems, and there is no inherent right or wrong in it. How it is used is what matters. When a flood is imminent, it would be wise to avoid it, otherwise your life could be at risk.
If you choose to avoid it when annoyance strikes, it may temporarily calm you down, but it might be worth considering that the annoyance will come back because you haven't resolved the problem at its core.
As you mentioned, memories from your childhood tend to resurface, making it challenging to find rest or nourishment. If you choose to avoid these memories, you may find yourself momentarily distracted by other things, but the underlying impact of your childhood experiences may still linger. It's important to start learning how to face these memories head-on. Your parents' observation that you have no conscience could serve as a valuable starting point in this process.
Your parents have expressed that they feel you lack conscience when you don't answer their calls. You have a strong sense that you possess conscience, but you are currently experiencing a great deal of exhaustion and are unable to communicate with your parents.
If that is the case, you do not believe that your parents should label you as heartless. In that instance, it would be beneficial to conduct an analysis.
1. Could I ask you to confirm whether this is true?
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider whether it is accurate to assume that your parents are calling you heartless. It seems unlikely that they would do so.
2. Could I ask you to confirm whether you are absolutely sure that that is true?
It might be helpful to consider that this idea, that your parents shouldn't say you have no conscience, might not be entirely accurate.
3. How do you think you will react when you hold this thought?
It's understandable if you feel sad, upset, or angry. Have you considered finding a reason to hold that thought without anxiety? It might be helpful to focus on ways to improve the situation, such as encouraging them to stop saying "I have no conscience."
Perhaps when they say you have no conscience, you feel that they shouldn't say that. Do their words make you anxious, or do you feel that they shouldn't say that? It's possible that this is not the right idea. You may take the idea as a fact and then verify it with the real thing. It's understandable if there's a discrepancy.
Since it is an idea, it can be replaced. Perhaps parents should say that I have no conscience, or perhaps I shouldn't say that I have no conscience. Which one is closer to the truth?
4. If you were to eliminate that thought, what kind of person would you be?
Then it will be very easy, and the thought that you shouldn't do it will disappear. Once there is no thought that you shouldn't do it, there is only the fact that your parents say you have no conscience.
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider this sentence a little more closely. Have your parents ever said this when you answered the phone, but not when you didn't answer the phone? If so, it might be easier to understand what they mean by saying you have no conscience.
It may seem illogical to equate a lack of conscience with a desire to answer the phone. Let's take a closer look at this apparent contradiction.
Perhaps we could define "heartless" as failing to answer the phone when one should. Based on this one incident, it seems that answering the phone is a key aspect of being heartless. Similarly, pointing out that one is being heartless implies that there is still a task left undone (in this case, answering one's parents' phone calls). In a way, pointing out the part you haven't done is akin to pointing out mistakes in a homework assignment. The hope is that you will correct it, which is to hope that you can do it right in the future.
This is what I understand to be the case: being heartless is akin to hoping you will do the right thing about answering the phone, which in turn means you have to answer the phone. I fully recognise that this is not an exact equivalence, but it seems to me that there is some truth in it.
Perhaps it would be helpful to let go of the idea that your parents shouldn't have said you were heartless. It seems that you've also made sense of the fact that your parents said you were heartless. If so, there shouldn't be any problems. And then? The rest is just a matter of slowly resolving the things that are causing you internal conflict, one by one.
You might consider making a long-term plan to sort out two or three things a day. In this way, you could have sorted out most of them in a year or two. This is a process of unravelling the mystery, and it requires patience.


Comments
I can totally relate to feeling stuck in a cycle of overthinking. It's hard when you know the issues but still struggle to break free from them. Maybe talking to a professional could offer some new strategies to cope with these thoughts. Also, it might help to find a hobby or activity that can serve as a positive distraction.
It sounds like you're carrying a lot of weight from your past. Sometimes, acknowledging those feelings and understanding why they affect you so much can be a step forward. Perhaps journaling about your childhood memories could provide some clarity and release. It's also okay to set boundaries with your family if their comments are adding to your stress.
Feeling ungrateful is a heavy burden, especially when you're trying to establish your own life. It's important to remember that your journey is unique, and it's okay to take time for yourself. Maybe reaching out to a trusted friend or counselor could help you process these emotions and find a way to heal.
The transition to independence can be really tough, especially when it stirs up old memories. It seems like you're very aware of your emotional patterns, which is a great start. Consider setting small, manageable goals to gradually address these feelings. And don't forget to be kind to yourself; healing takes time, and it's okay to ask for support along the way.