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They just wont understand, why?

white knight
Community Champion
Community Champion
We hear those words often. The trouble is, there is a word in that sentence that doesn’t
fit, it shouldn’t be there. It’s the word “wont”

“Wont” means they have a choice to understand your emotional struggles. It should, in many
cases, be replaced with “don’t” or "cant"

For these people are the people we love and they love us. Would they, make the choice of not understanding? Understanding…what does that entail? Do we expect our partners, children, friends and parents to understand what its like to have our minds as if it’s in a cloud? Or throbbing like a migraine? Or whysome of us sleep for what seems endless hours?  What about when our carer partner has been so long without
love making and their frustration explodes and we chant “you just don’t understand”!!!

I put it to you, that it is us also that doesn’t understand what its like to be a partner of a mentally ill person. In respect to this an article I wrote a long time ago now can be googled- “Topic: who cares for the carer- beyondblue” In that thread I mentioned that if you can walk to the toilet, answer the phone and get yourself something to eat during the day while your partner is at work….you can also greet him/her as they walk in the door, have a cuppa and a chat asking how their day went before you slip back into bed if you must.

Some cant, understandably. But some wont! A choice (note the word “wont”) is made. In
these cases they are hurting the ones they love.

I’m lucky, my wife has depression, it comes and goes. We never say “you wont understand”. We both do understand. However my last partner and before her, my first wife, never understood my struggles. Those days I believed that they chose to not understand. I was wrong. They had little hope of understanding. Why?

Simply  because the other person doesn’t “feel” the effects of the illness. And there might also be the blaming effect to, to blame others through our own expectations of what we are pleading for.

Whatever sooths you and comforts you from your partner – tell them what that is. Think about your needs whether is a daily hug, a hand on the shoulder or an ear with the occasional comment or question. For your partner or loved one likely has no concept of what they can do to help. And that in itself can be agonising.

We should never get the feeling or not being loved mixed up with a lack of ability to help us. It’s not
that they wont understand-its more likely they cant understand so they don’t.

Tony WK

153 Replies 153

Hi Sleepy,

something which made a great difference to me was a book about ESP- Extra Sensitive People lol. Seriously!

It showed me that I am one of around 10-30% of the population which is extra senstive, which explained why I don't like shopping centres, and need less stimulation than some others. I don't know if trauma can increase someones sensitivity but it makes sense that it would.

Having that knowledge now lets me choose more wisely when it comes to my surroundings, especially when eating or when feeling sensitive.

I'm glad to hear that you got a good nights sleep.

Thankyou for your kind words.😘

Hugs

J*

Hi J

Most topics to do with mental illness I can find a positive side to. Depression for example often includes a creative side, inventive, artistic, entertainment etc.

With being a highly sensitive person it's harder to shine a positive light.

In my case I have confirmed time and time again that I'm more sensitive when tired than not tired. Good solid sleep is my nightly goal.

The only positive of being a HSP in my view, is that one is more considerate towards the fate of those around us.

TonyWK

Hi WK,

HSP is less confusing- I like it. Nice to meet another HSP/ESP!

I reckon being a HSP is ok. It's kinda hard cos the majority (60-80%) have no idea what it's like, and can't relate. But I find I'm pretty attuned to kids, and animals and nature. And knowing there's others like me, that are probably not aware of what it is that makes things so difficult sometimes, means that I can influence situations for the benefit of all. Like, I'm the person who will speak up for others, generally, so knowing about HSP people gives me courage to know there a silent minority I'm also speaking for. Turning the music down, setting up a quiet space, introducing calming elements to a party, or a kids event. Reducing time spent in shopping plaza's.

It's too easy to get dragged along with all the hype. I'm a HSP for a reason. I can help myself in this world by learning about it, and in turn helping others.

I totally agree with the sleep thing. For me, my sleep is affected by too much stimulation, so it's a bit of a chicken/egg situation lol....

Cheers,

J*

Hi J

Yes, knowing other HSP people is comforting.

I also really relate to your avoidance of things like shopping centres and being considerate.

My sensitivity extends to music and emotional words. I've followed a guru called Prem Rawat Maharaji for 34 years. He has many YouTube vids.

Google

YouTube Maharaji sunset

YouTube Maharaji the perfect instrument

YouTube Maharaji acceptance

There are many more. I also relate to animals better than humans. Essentially I see an emotion in just about everything. I have bipolar 2 but also dysthymia, a low mood constant depression from childhood trauma I thought responsible for my sensitivity but it appears less likely now.
TonyWK

Hi WK,

Music and words are very important to me also. I like having my own music on while I am being creative, it's hard sometimes to share music with ppl who arent HSP. At a dinner party recently we couldn't agree on music- they said my music was for the end of the party..... and theirs was for the beginning and middle! In other words, lively vs sleepy... ( altho essentially I could disagree becos they loved very Country/western.....not even a hint of folk or bluegrass. And hated blues. So I'm not sure if we can socialise anymore...........

Listening to their music gave me a headache and jangled me up, and after they went home my H put on more loud music! It took me sooo long to settle down that night.

What music do you like?

I followed the teachings of Osho for a while in my 20's. He was very influential for me. His followers/my friends were the most peaceful/ emotionally open ppl I had ever met.

Cheers,

J*

Hi J

When young my passion for music began with the Bee Gees. Their melodies made me cry. It put me at another emotional level.

I liked Cat Stevens for his mystic words. My favorite song of his is "the wind".

Then later I ignored my dislike for rock bands with Led Zepplin as the melody and words of Stairway to heaven struck a chord.

I've known for a long time now that most people can't relate to my emotional side so I don't waste my time trying to explain it. They live totally in the real world with little fantasy and zero emotion.

There's so much more to life that the rituals of daily routine imo.

Favourite movies

The legend of 1900

About a man born and raised on a cruiseliner and never stood on shore. Again, an emotional theme.

Google

YouTube maharaji sunset

TonyWK

Guest_1643
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

hi Jstar - so insightful

i would like the more calming music like u

i listen to a lot of depressing music, but to me it is soothing

music can take us to a calm place and that's a precious thing

I also feel like most ppl can't understand me, and lately have become very sensitive and uninterested in the "well-meaning lecture" that ppl offer about mental health - usually when they know very little

i sometimes feel like ppl don't really listen to each other and just hear what they want to hear

Listening is so precious

l think won't and can't and don't and l could add a few more to that too let me tell ya , not to mention one of the mains , they're basically just too self absorbed to giva fk really. People seem to be good as long as your good , but very few really giva damn and stick around when your not. And even for them you know , people like us or many through bb , could , if you got too involved and caring , absolutely suck what you do have to spare away and just drain you. But we can only go through that for a choice few in our life , or even a choice one. Just how much can you give , you know , to somebody that isn't your spouse or child or parent or best of friend , how much can you have left. ? After life work struggles bills your own family or loved ones , how much can you spare and yet still look after yourself with just what's left , if any ? And then there's the emotional users that happily drain the life out of you if your silly enough to listen. l've got one of those, a brother.

Soooo, in many ways l do understand it.Going through divorce no one wanted to know suddenly l didn't hear even from most family 3 or 4 yrs and my families huge yet only 2 gave a damn or had time, both single . l mean later l understood, everyone else had so much already ,just how much can you actually have left , ya know.

So l do sort of get it , especially in this country with our outrageous mortgages and cost of living , not much left in the tank even time wise with that on top of it.

But l'm so sorry sleepy you haven't been able to find much help . Bc counselors and professionals have no excuse it's their job to read you and pick it and to know that their standard list of off the sheet questions won't always rule you out of danger and need.

l used mensline myself back when , whom l mostly found extremely good out of all l tried but as usual some people just shouldn't be in the job so it depended who you got.Seems to be very common just finding that right thing for you.

Hope your holding up. rx

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Listening is so precious!

Understanding?
I've given up on other people understanding me.
Except for here ofcourse, there's so much more understanding here.

I think another person either has to have far more than a psych degree to understand me, that AND a first hand personal experience of trauma. Or just be incredibly intuitive and empathic perhaps.

PLUS a person devoid of cruelty. Finding a person who has no motivation to make cruel comments / judgements is so rare.

J* you're my twin lol... I could probably have written every word of your last 2 posts.
Maybe not same musical taste but don't hold that against me lol!

I'm feeling pretty fractured and splintered psychologically tonight after an unexpected trigger this afternoon from demons family.

Not much I can do about it but will probably do something different for the first time.

I'm relieved the full on PTSD reaction didn't go on full throttle... I guess I'll see when I sleep tonight lol... IF I Sleep tonight!
All younger kids getting home after midnight, there could just be a bit of a party... who knows.
As long as they're all happy sounds.

Peace and love to you all. Ah why not some mung beans too!
Ecomama xxxx

ecomama
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hey rx

Hearing you brother. You're spot on.

Hoping you can get a reprieve from the pressures.

Peace man,
Love EM