Deep and debilitating empathy for objects.

I have had this for as long as I can remember.

I’m 20, and I was diagnosed when I was 19. So I’m just now starting to try and understand myself.

In my mind, every single object, even food, has a soul, feelings, and can get hurt.

Deep down I know they don’t. But my brain keeps trying to convince myself they do. And it’s a curse.

My empathy for them is so strong that I struggle to throw away a used toothbrush. I see it as a betrayal of a loyal friend who will then cry alone and suffer in the trash.

I bawled my eyes out when I cooked a puree that ended up bad, and I had to throw it away. My mind was imagining the potatoes excited for a chance to be eaten and now they went to the trash without that chance.

I can’t get rid of old clothes because it feels like a betrayal. My room is full of stuff because I can’t get rid of my old things.

I recently lost a pair of shorts and my mind keeps picturing it scared and alone somewhere.

This is a nightmare. Please, does anyone else have this/know how to make it less painful?