Am I emotionally dumb?

Hello! I’m 17F, and I had an issue with my best friend this year that made me realize I might struggle with understanding how my words and actions affect other people and how I can’t understand other people’s feelings properly. I don’t always realize how something I say might make someone else feel, and I can get frustrated really easily. I also tend to want to solve conflicts incredibly quickly, but I’ve realized that this can sometimes put more pressure on the other person. Sometimes I don’t feel much emotion in the moment, and then later I feel extreme guilt. My best friend has also told me that I tend to shut down really quickly during conflicts. I’ve noticed something similar when I argue with my mom, although I actually cry a lot during arguments with her. I want to work on this because I don’t want it to negatively affect my other friendships. Has anyone dealt with something similar? If so, what helped you become better at recognizing other people’s feelings and handling conflict?

Posted Aug 28, 2026, 7:45 AM UTC

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