Anonymous-EmpathyAI/Distortion-Analysis-PACLIC39 huggingface dataset:
Patient question: I’m an emotional wreck. Nothing triggers it. I just get emotional out of nowhere. I will cry for hours for no reason. I keep hearing voices in my head saying there’s something watching me and then i would freak out and start shaking and sobbing even more. I sometimes have to cover my ears in attempt to quiet down the voices. I also have an unhealthy habit of food binging. I can’t help it and i feel horrible after it. I will have something like a manic episode where i feel like i can do anything! I will suddenly get emotionally unstable again and get suicidal out of nowhere. I’m so paranoid and feel like people are always watching me. I feel like people are in my head reading my innermost thoughts. It drives me crazy. I know that it’s not possible but tell that to the crazy voices in my head. I hear people calling me when there’s no one around. I see shadowy figures lurking around my house. I display such inappropriate emotions all the time. If someone told me their dog just passed away then i would probably burst out laughing. Yeah this is why i can never attend a funeral. My mother thinks im ridiculously paranoid and delusional but i’m not. People don’t understand. I feel like im going mad. I sometimes can’t even show any emotions because i simply can’t feel. That hurts people. Im ridiculously empathetic but also ridiculously insensitive. Im always crying for no reason. I will burst out laughing for no reason. People tell me that im a psychopath or that im insane but I’m not. I could be rational sometimes. Which is why im here. Im actually a really intelligent person academically. I just don’t understand all of this madness. I feel like im going to accidentally drive myself into suicide because of this. I already self harm for relief. I have not been diagnosed with anything because i never got tested or went to a psychologist. I also really feel like im losing my grip on reality and my sanity is slipping. Could this be indicative of something bigger? (age 14, from US)

Distorted part: People don’t understand. I feel like im going mad. I sometimes can’t even show any emotions because i simply can’t feel. That hurts people. Im ridiculously empathetic but also ridiculously insensitive. Im always crying for no reason. I will burst out laughing for no reason. 
Dominant distortion: Emotional Reasoning
Secondary distortion: Mind Reading
Patient question: I’ve been dealing with this problem on and off for some years now and I’m finally in that “it’s hopeless” stage. I feel like I keep slipping in and out of crazy, I don’t even have panic attacks anymore but I always have this overwhelming since of anxiety and derealization. It makes me very uncomfortable, it messes with my thoughts and it makes it very hard to sleep. Every time I try to go to sleep I feel like I wake up half sleep and with anxiety causing me to think about strange things and kinda see lights. I’d have to try to sleep multiple times before I can get it. It makes me feel very depressed and emotionless, like I’m a zombie. And at times my derealization gets so bad I feel like I’m going crazy. I just don’t know what to do anymore. Im not even sure if this is still anxiety or is it become another problem.

Distorted part: And at times my derealization gets so bad I feel like I’m going crazy.
Dominant distortion: Mental filter
Patient question: I am trying to figure out if certain problem I am currently experiencing is social phobia, paranoia, or it is something serious like schizophrenia. It started when I (age 26) went on a trip to Europe with my brother and I got a terrible flu, and on our tour bus I began having a psychosis. I thought I could hear the whole bus talking about me being stupid and ugly. Even outside where we couldn’t find people from our tour bus, I heard them talking about me, it freaked me out so much I had to ask my brother if he could hear it too , which he said no. I did have a high fever so that could have explained what was happening, but even after that occurrence there are times, not every day, I go out and I feel like I can hear people calling me ugly and stupid, or if they are laughing I think they are laughing at me. I moved to the city and I rarely want to go out because I’m afraid I will have an episode again. My boyfriend knows when I have these episodes because I become quiet and disoriented. That is because I try to listen to peoples conversations and find out if I’m going crazy or they are talking about me. Also, I do not hear voices when I am alone but only when there are people around talking so I do not know if it is because I keep mishearing or interpreting the wrong way. I am worried and not sure if I need to seek help from a therapist. Thank you for your help. I would like to add that I do not take any medications or drugs.

Distorted part: I thought I could hear the whole bus talking about me being stupid and ugly. 
Dominant distortion: Mind Reading
Secondary distortion: Emotional Reasoning
Patient question: I experienced three consecutive traumas during childhood — the first living alone with my severely depressed and volatile mother whose moods terrified me, the second a long period of violent sexual abuse culminating in my rape at age 9, the third a very open rejection and subsequent abandonment by my father. I’m now 23 and my life is beautiful. I have dealt with most of my issues. But one that won’t leave me alone is that I feel I am stuck with the emotional maturity of a small child. It’s like I stopped developing at some point. I cry literally every day, often at things that most people would find ridiculous. I have so many emotions and I don’t know what to do with them. I am so embarrassed because I frequently find myself fighting back tears in public. I’m not depressed, I am very happy in general, it’s just that my emotional responses are childlike and it only takes the tiniest thing to set me off. I’m constantly struggling not to cry like a silly little girl, I can’t seem to control myself. I can’t really describe the things that upset me, because they are so varied. Is this something I will have to live with forever? Is there a certain type of therapy that you could recommend? My last therapist told me that I was just an incredibly sensitive person and that I’d have to accept this about myself, but I can’t bear the thought of being so emotional forever. I don’t feel that it’s normal. Did my childhood trauma stunt my emotional development? Did I get stuck? Is this fixable?

Distorted part: I’m not depressed, I am very happy in general, it’s just that my emotional responses are childlike and it only takes the tiniest thing to set me off.
Dominant distortion: Should statements
Secondary distortion: Labeling
Patient question: From the U.S.: I’m 17 and I don’t like to speak and I try to avoid every situation where I have to speak. I’ve been doing this since I was little but I would only avoid speaking to other children. However as I got older I stopped talking to teachers. When my teachers called on me I would just stay silent. Now I’m doing it to my family. When my mother or siblings says something to me I just stay silent and they think I’m ignoring them. I’m not. I have a reply in my head but I just can’t bring myself to say it out loud.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: I can remember at least 3 incidents as a child, the main one being when I was around 7-9 (we were the same age). My friend and I used to play many sexual games — these included humping and kissing each other and examining each other. I remember feeling very guilty and sad about this — sometimes when I wouldn’t want to play anymore she would force me — however I was a very bossy child so I do not know how much of this was my initiative.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: For the last couple of years, since my mom and step-dad married, he has been treating my siblings and me badly. I’m the oldest, being 16, and I have a younger sister who is 12,and a younger brother who is only a little over a year old. My step-dad gets up in my face quite often yelling and screaming. Other family members and my friends have witnessed it. No one in my family likes him except for my mother, (who seems to have a thing for abusive men. She divorced my father to reconcile with the man that punched her in the stomach and put a loaded revolver to her head while she was pregnant with me). My step-dad has come at me several times, asking if I wanted a piece of him and getting a little too close for comfort. I’m afraid that he’s going to actually hit me sometimes.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: I met my bipolar boyfriend 6 years ago…we fell madly in love and cared for each other, he told me he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and it didn’t matter to me cuz he was amazing so I read more on it and educated myself. I considered him my best friend, lover and partner I know he is my soulmate as I’ve never felt like this before … he was my first and only love. He graduated before me and we had a long distance relationship visiting each other and always talking everyday for 6 years . It wasn’t easy at all …we went through a lot during that time … he had several manic and depressive episodes and I recognized all the symptoms. He has been medicated for years but every time the episodes occurs he would break up with me and breaks my heart. It happened at least once a year during our relationship and I always reached back. I always fought for us even when it’s painful and hurtful. I believed in him and us with all my heart and wanted to be there for him to support him We talked about having a future together and we were getting engaged. We are both from different countries … but it didn’t matter at all since they are neighboring countries. He talked to his mom and told her about us she wouldn’t accept me cuz I’m from a different country he told her how I understand him and supports him but she still didn’t care … in his culture he can’t fight his family to accept us. He can’t force me on him even thou there’s nothing wrong with me except being from a different country. He tried for several months until he started to hate his family and to resent them and he broke up with me few days ago saying we don’t have a future after 6 years he breaks my heart and shatter it into pieces. He has been experiencing some mood swings during that time feeling pressured … frustrated and overwhelmed. He still loves me and he knows we will be happy together, but he chose to give up on us … on our future together I feel devastated … hurt … empty and numb. I don’t know what to do anymore I don’t want anyone else besides him Is the stress causing him to act out n that he’s having an episode? (age 26, from Saudi Arabia)

Distorted part: He has been experiencing some mood swings during that time feeling pressured … frustrated and overwhelmed. He still loves me and he knows we will be happy together, but he chose to give up on us … on our future together I feel devastated … hurt … empty and numb. I don’t know what to do anymore I don’t want anyone else besides him Is the stress causing him to act out n that he’s having an episode?
Dominant distortion: Magnification
Patient question: I am 17, currently living in Australia. All my life I have never had any passion for anything. I do have many fleeting interests, but when I try to pursue them I tend to lose interest very quickly. I don’t have much experience with real-world issues either; I’ve never had a job, can’t drive, and never done any extracurricular activities or even had any real hobbies. Up to this point, my life has been comprised of studying and maintaining grades at school.

Distorted part: All my life I have never had any passion for anything. 
Dominant distortion: Overgeneralization
Patient question: Ever since I was young I talked to myself. But recently it’s been taking a turn for the worse. I can no longer communicate with the people around me. In my class, with my friends and even with my family. When I’m alone or I’m not interested in a conversation I’ll simply begin talking to myself. I’ve come up with other people in my head. A new group of friends, a romantic relationship, the only scary thing is that I’ve even thought of doing violent acts to those people and the people around me. When I try to talk to the people around me I just freeze up or I talk in my own humor which no one seems to get. I haven’t been able to make friends and my family is concerned I may have psychological issues. I don’t know how to stop though. I want to be able to talk with people an be friendly but every time I try I just feel like they don’t get me so I resort back to the people in my head. Am I a schizophrenic? Or am I crazy? I don’t know how to deal with it and if this continues I’m afraid it may get worse. I’m terrified of telling my mother this an my friends all called me a lunatic when I tried to explain it to them so I don’t know where else to go…? (From Canada)

Distorted part:  I want to be able to talk with people an be friendly but every time I try I just feel like they don’t get me so I resort back to the people in my head.
Dominant distortion: Mind Reading
Patient question: Hi there, my mother was diagnosed with Bipolar about four years ago after years of misdiagnoses. She has been on Risperidone for about 4 years now and has usually been okay. But in the last year she’s had two episodes, not full-blown but bad enough to cause us all stress (her family). I have two questions today: Does this mean the medication is no longer working? And secondly, her symptoms are listed anywhere as being Bipolar symptoms so I’m wondering whether you can shed some light. She often speaks French when she’s having an episode. A language she never speaks nor does she speak it correctly, it’s almost as if she’s making up words. She then puts on a French accent when speaking English and cannot pronounce her R’s anymore. She also acts unlike herself by singing constantly or mumbling under her breath as she’s walking around the house. It’s been like this for a week now and she’s taking one Risperidone a day…is any of this characteristic of Bipolar Disorder? She obviously has the paranoia and the delusions that someone is looking at her or whatever. I’m 27 years old and she’ll act like I’m her 5 year old daughter if we walk outside or in the streets, as if I might get kidnapped. Please help! I am deeply saddened and stress just caring for her. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: From the U.S.: Hello. I was molested by a relative of our neighbor when I was 5, but I’m not sure if what my grandmother did also counts as molestation. She would joke around with me and touch me between my legs and I would always laugh because she convinced me that this was all in good fun. I was around the ages of 4 or 5. She never did this around my mother, though. Only when we were alone on the bed. Does this count as molestation? My therapist thinks it does, but I’m not sure. Maybe I am in denial? I’m 23 right now and thinking about all of this is making me a wreck and making me see my grandmother in a different light (I still live with her and my mother, by the way). Thank you for your help.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: My boyfriend and I broke up in early November because my friends and family started saying that he was trying to keep me from them and started a rumor that he was a woman beater. My best friend heard this rumor and called my mother which in return she freaked out on my boyfriend. This rumor is not true, he has never laid a hand on me. Me and my boyfriend could not survive the rumors because and I tried to defend my parents. Since then I moved out of his house and into my parents. My parents are over bearing and undermine everything I do with my 5 year old child. I am 27 years old and afraid to tell my parents that I want to work things out with my ex boyfriend, I’m afraid to talk to him on the phone around my parents, or see him. My parents told me that if i ever moved back in with him that they would try to take my daughter from me. I am a good mother and have done nothing to deserve this. Please help I need an outside source.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: From the U.S. — I’m 15. So ever since a couple years ago, my parents have became very cautious with what I do on my phone and the computer. Now, they block things on my computer, have my whole computer shut off at “bed time” and have it not turn back on until a specific time.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: Hello. I’m writing this since I think I need help. So I’m in a relationship with a girl for 3 months now we know each other for almost a year and we used to text 24/7. We love each other so much we make gifts for ourselves, we go out daily and we have the best time ever. But I don’t know why I am very jealous and I can’t help it. Every time she is with her friend, a guy who is very good friend of hers for 6 years, I just lose it. She is a honest person, she wouldn’t ever cheat on someone, she hasn’t shown even once that she can do this to me, still I’m very jealous, we’ve had some arguments about that and she said that if I trusted her I wouldn’t worry, I do trust her really, but I don’t trust the guy or I just don’t feel it right to text so much with him or go out with him, I don’t think it’s right, I think he may like her even. And the problem is getting even more serious, I’m starting to get jealous when she goes out with her girl friends I start to overthink what she is doing, who is she texting and I’m so afraid of losing her. I have never felt another person so close to my heart as I feel her, I really don’t want to lose her. I haven’t told her I’m jealous of her girl friends because that would be ridiculous. I really want to keep our relationship healthy, but this is slowly becoming a huge problem which I need help to remove. Sometimes I am jealous that she has fun without me, I hide those feelings from her and I hold the pain in myself. I really hope that you understand my problem even tho my English isn’t that good and my problem is probably very strange. Please help me, I want to change. (age 16, from Bulgaria)

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: From the U.S.: I’ve been diagnosed with OCD since summer of 2013 after I had 3 weeks of horrible intrusive thoughts, causing me to cry constantly. I started at 50mg of Zoloft, though soon I had to up it to 75mg then 100mg. I’ve been doing okay with the 100mg, though sometimes I forget to take it. The reason it all started (What I believe…) is after seeing the movie “The Conjuring.” It messed with me, made me afraid of possession or going crazy and hurting someone I love. I still am afraid of these things, but not as much. I haven’t watched any scary movies, but I’ve seen previews and they cause my anxiety to go out the roof. Its 11:17pm right now and I am tired but I’m not laying down because I am still afraid, except its slightly different. Lately, I’ve been feeling like someone is watching me, like a ghost (Lately, meaning in the past week this started.) and I don’t hear any voices or anything but I’m so afraid that I could be going crazy or something, it scares me so much. It may be because I haven’t been taking my Zoloft constantly, not that I ignore it, I honestly forget to take it. I went to my doctor last Monday and everything was okay, what should I do? Should I make another apt? I’ve also had therapy, it did help a lot. Should I go back to therapy? Please let me know, I want a professional opinion before I freak even more out. I’ve been reading too many things on the internet about “Am I insane? Am I crazy? Are ghost real? Am I being haunted?” Thank you.

Distorted part: Lately, I’ve been feeling like someone is watching me, like a ghost (Lately, meaning in the past week this started.) and I don’t hear any voices or anything but I’m so afraid that I could be going crazy or something, it scares me so much. 
Dominant distortion: Emotional Reasoning
Patient question: I’m 14 years old, and I think I might have depression, but I’m not sure. On and off for the past year, I’ve been not motivated, and whenever I try to get organized or “Get my life together” it only lasts a few days. Yesterday I fell asleep at 8pm without doing my homework and woke up at 8am. I still felt exhausted, and my mom let me stay home because she thought I was sick, or upset about something. I told her I don’t know why I’m sad, but she thinks I just don’t want to tell her. I pretend to be happy most of the time, but I mostly just have an empty feeling.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: I’m asking for your help and I’m hopeful that you can point me in the right direction. The shape of my life is good, but there are lingering anxieties that have not resolved themselves in time. I’ve had the painful experience of being the target of bullying numerous times throughout my life. I’ve grown increasingly immune to bullying but unbeknownst to me a symptom has emerged. These episodes of bullying were traumatic but the most traumatic aspect was the breach of trust because the bullying came from friends and family. As such I experience social anxiety and emotionally stress. I am a heterosexual male, fairly honest, emphatic, and trustworthy but that has been put into question by bullies who attack my lack of manliness. I’m actually a good looking man who attracts women but that creates jealousy and unintentionally provokes bullying. The bullies project onto me their own insecurities. These include two highly controversial sexual preferences, one more so than the other. They are: homosexuality and pedophilia. It takes a higher level of emotional maturity to recognize that homosexuality is perfectly fine but pedophilia is a sexual disorder, distinct from child molestation which is a crime. In my opinion no one wants to be sick, so on one wants to be a pedophile nor depressed nor schizophrenic nor anxious, etc. People want to happy and healthy. I cannot cure those bullies with their insecurities and I cannot cure myself. I know the truth of who I am, but I sometimes feel anxious all the same. It rattled my bones. I use to become easily unnerved whenever homosexuality was discussed positively or negatively. Not so much these days. However, being bullied and told you’re a pedophile carries such a heavy social stigma that has taken longer to recover from. I should point out that I never had any issues with homosexuality and respected such preferences. I never had any issues being around children, and my brother asked me to be the godfather of his son because I was so responsible. I’ve lost sight of that. It has been forgotten due to social anxiety and emotional trauma. My question is simple. Should I seek professional help to rid myself of this cognitive dissonance or will it pass with time? My problem is I have become self-absorbed because of bullying, but I really want to reconnect with others.

Distorted part: However, being bullied and told you’re a pedophile carries such a heavy social stigma that has taken longer to recover from. 
Dominant distortion: Labeling