EMOTIONAL DEPRIVATION.

at root, you have a feeling of being chronically disappointed in other people. that they will let you down. we are not speaking about a single case of disappointment. your conclusion, as a result of past relationships, is that you cannot count on people to be there for you emotionally. It is a sad &. heavy sense of knowledge. because you have faced so much deprivation in your life, you feel that it is frightening to make yourself vulnerable to others &. ask for what you need. you may protect yourself from closeness by choosing partners who are unavailable, or someone who is physically there but mentally cold &. ungiving. In this way, you perpetuate your sense of being neglected. it feels as if no matter where you turn, you encounter deprivation. emotional neglect is part &. parcel of intimate relations for you. but, at least in part, this neglect also arises because it is dangerous for you to ask for what you truly want. you have become very invested in doing the opposite; that is, keeping yourself invulnerable in close relations to protect yourself from disappointment. to avoid the hurt of the deprivation you have felt, you focus on how others have let you down &. disappointed you. you can easily access anger about past relationships, but it is difficult for you to feel the pain.

"You should take your own advice."