DogwoodTree
Still here...
The concept of object permanence is that you understand a thing exists even when you can't see it. This is a developmental task usually attained by 2 years old. And I get that. Things exist and move and change, even if I don't see them.
But I think I have more of a problem with this when it comes to people. I know they exist, but I have a really, really hard time thinking of them as "other" when they're not around. It's like, if they continue to exist in my consciousness at all, they become avatars in my head, instead of independent persons "out there somewhere."
When I haven't seen someone for a couple of weeks, and then I see that person again, it's a jolt to my system as I "remember": oh yes, this person is "out there", they're not just inside my head, this is someone other than me.
Intellectually, I get it that other people aren't me. But it's kinda like (I'm having a hard time putting this into words)...kinda like they're only "people" when I'm having conversations with them in my mind...but when they're "out there", they're more like puzzles to be solved...like forever-changing and intensely-complex Rubik's cubes.
Does this sound familiar to anyone at all?
But I think I have more of a problem with this when it comes to people. I know they exist, but I have a really, really hard time thinking of them as "other" when they're not around. It's like, if they continue to exist in my consciousness at all, they become avatars in my head, instead of independent persons "out there somewhere."
When I haven't seen someone for a couple of weeks, and then I see that person again, it's a jolt to my system as I "remember": oh yes, this person is "out there", they're not just inside my head, this is someone other than me.
Intellectually, I get it that other people aren't me. But it's kinda like (I'm having a hard time putting this into words)...kinda like they're only "people" when I'm having conversations with them in my mind...but when they're "out there", they're more like puzzles to be solved...like forever-changing and intensely-complex Rubik's cubes.
Does this sound familiar to anyone at all?