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Clueless

What do you think of when people say you are just doing that for attention especially things like suicidal gestures?

Posted by Clueless • 5/25/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: attention seeking, bipolar, borderline personality, depression, mental health, Mental Illness, ptsd, self harm, self injury, suicide

Clueless side: My therapist pointed out that I have a hard time accepting that I need attention. NEED!! Anyway, I'm still feeling bad. I feel so bad that I can't even acknowledge that I want to be noticed or enjoy it...I start down that borderline path of feeling bad, having suicidal thoughts, and wanting to self injure...fighting all weekend. And to have that need met makes it worse and just hurts in that place that never got it when I needed it!! Sigh, it felt good to put this out there to someone which means I needed attention in the form of acknowledgement of my feelings...not simply attention...helps if you are specific.

Clinical side: I have a real pet peeve about saying, "oh, it is just for attention." They it like it is a bad thing. Attention is not a bad thing (do not tell my therapist...he will use it against me) and all behavior indicates a need, so they need attention. But, let's get specific what type someone to talk to, a companion, someone to play a game with, someone to help them with their medications, someone to help them with something...it is always a an indication of a want or need that they find this is the only way that they can express it. What are they really trying to say. Take the time to listen.

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User Comments

  1. nursarahlam
    11/15/08
    nursarahlam
    hm.. I need attention too but too bad no one pays attention to me, so when I was a kid, I don't usually seek people's attention.. I would rather stay under cover.. or invisible..
    [reply]
  2. lettershome
    11/15/08
    lettershome
    @clueless

    Don't want to discourage any discussion here, but perhaps you should ask this again on a site where you would find more people in your situation or who have gone through similar experiences. One of them is www.psychforums.com

    I'm not saying it's the best site out there, but you might want to check it out.
    [reply]

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