To vent or not to vent, is that even a question?

Are the rehabilitative wonders of talking real? Is it true that when we talk about our problems to people who appear to look us in the eye intently, we suddenly feel lighter and somewhat cured of those problems? Or did we actually just add unnecessary baggage to the person who had to listen to us whine for the past hour or so? Not everyone's emotionally equipped to play the role of the psychiatrist.

But you hear that all the time don't you? Or at least I hear it all the time. "Why do you look upset? You can tell me." The offer was probably genuine at some point but once you start talking, you notice their faces shift. Like they lost interest or they drifted away into their own problems for a while, comparing their troublesome lives to yours. This is what I think is true for everyone, we all think our problems are unique and especially difficult to live through because we are the ones living it. And it's possible that along the way we end up belittling other people's problems because we're not in the position to be deeply affected by such problems that our emotions or irrationality start clouding our judgments. So the solution will seem a lot more obvious to an outsider, but in their shoes? It's one thing to find out the solution and another to actually act on it which could prove to be doubly as intimidating and laborious to do. That's why our problems are always "complicated." Maybe it's inflated ego, maybe it's just harsh reality, and who's to say it can't be both?

I have to admit though that just getting it off your chest might help you deal with the problem. To have something so burdensome locked away in your subconscious for the longest time can take a toll on you and sometimes it helps a lot just to be able to tell someone what it is that's troubling you, even if they provide no solutions whatsoever. But not everyone's interested in listening to your problems. Is it enough to simply think that the other person cares even though deep down you know they don't and the only reason they're smiling and nodding emphatically as you talk is because they wish you would do the same for them? It's not enough for me, I have no use for false pity, I have no use for other people's bullshit. If you have no intention in investing yourself into someone else's issues, do us all a favour and don't ask. Just keep your mouth shut and walk away.

Then again, at times it helps as well to vent and hear the other person put you back into place. "Dude, your perspective on life sucks!" As cold and brutal as that may sound, sometimes a slap in the face is all you really need. It may seem brutal at the time and you may feel betrayed but I think we only react to these slaps in anger because we know they're right.

"If you have problems, fix it. Don't run away and hide in your room all day."

The dynamics have changed. I could wish to be five again and I could run up to my mother, hug her and burst into tears, maybe stay like that for as long as it takes for me to feel better. I could wish with the magical powers of a thousand shooting stars but it won't make a difference. She won't assure me that everything was going to be okay, she would assure me that everything will stay the same unless I grow up. The dynamics have changed.