Am I just too compassionate or depressed?

Question:

Sometimes I wonder if there is really something wrong with me. And this is serious, so please no flaming. Hearing about cruelty to children and animals affects me to the degree where I can't get things I see and hear out of my mind, and it makes me really angry at the world in general. I know there's a ton of really good people out there that would never do horrible things to kids and animals, but I'm also just floored but the sheer number of incredibly sick and heartless people that do. I feel like the world is going to hell in a hand basket sometimes, and I'm only in my 20s. I feel like I don't have much to look forward to. I have friends and a good job and family, and I don't see anyone affected by the stuff that goes on in the world like I do. I wish I could be more egocentric honestly. Is this normal to be so affected by stuff you see and hear in the news and on the internet, that it can really ruin your day and give you such a negative outlook on life?

Answers:
Hi, I am very much like you, I also am very sensitive to cruelty of any form, and hearing about it on the news or thinking about it also makes me depressed, sometimes for days. And when I realize there's nothing I can do about it, it makes me negative, feeling as if I don't belong in this (cruel) world. But I don't think there is anything wrong with you (and me). In statistics I learned that most things are distributed on a normal curve, like a wave form, starting low, then high, then low again. That means, in this case, the majority of people feel moderately about cruelty (the center bulge of the curve, near the average), less people are towards left and right sides of the curve, on the left the few that care very much, have strong feelings (about cruelty), and few people, also minority, who don't care much, on the other side of the curve. So you and I are from the minority on the one side. E-mail me if you want to talk more.

You are not alone in your sentiments, I guess we all deal with lifes evils in our own ways, we can at least not contribute to the evils we see, and report any we may witness, there has always and will be evil people, and there will always be good people to restore our faith. Good luck.

I'm just the same i promise. It's over-empathising and taking on others problems, or feeling for others and animals. I have my own problems too and am seriously effected by some of the questions here, but i will answer them if i can. You may have depression from this and i think it's worth going to the doctor and talking to him/her. Don't be embarrassed or ashamed the docs are used to hearing this sort of stuff. I do think that CBT or counselling would help you. Take care. Helen. x

I have always been unable to watch scenes of personal violence, but I know that it is a carryover from the physical abuse I suffered in my childhood. My sister had the same problem but couldn't figure out why until I reminded her about the abuse. She had completely blocked it. This is why I feel you are probably not depressed if you are functioning normally on all other levels. I would definitely suggest some therapy to find out why you overidentify with the victims.

Am I just too compassionate or depressed?

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