Ever since the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, more people are focusing on mental health. Apart from the countless social media posts where people urge their social media friends to open up to them, many people have reached out to me to ask about my overall well-being. Honestly, I have been putting on a fake smile while chatting with them.
Why? The reason is simple. None of them are therapists, nor am I one. Since my childhood, I have been a patient listener. Often, my own anxiety and depression would get triggered by listening to other’s problems. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to maintain a safe distance from certain issues for my emotional well-being. Now, the question is, are those people who urge others to open up really worth opening up to? Are they really empathetic listeners?