Anonymous-EmpathyAI/Distortion-Analysis-PACLIC39 huggingface dataset:
Patient question: I have been suffering from depression for four years and have been on medication and attending off and on therapy for about two now. I have noticed my bad days aren’t so bad now, but my good days aren’t as good either. About 9 months ago I started a new medication and have noticed a lack of appetite, sex drive, and passion for anything in general, as well as consistent nausea when I do eat, so I’ve been considering weening off of them. I have a family history of mental disorders, and have been diagnosed with Major Depression, but I’m tired of feeling numb. Do you believe discontinuing my medication would be beneficial for me?

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: I’ve been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and PTSD, and it’s really become difficult to live normally. I’ve avoided treatment because I dislike medication due to past experiences and my last hospital visit didn’t go well, so I’m afraid of the next one.

Distorted part: I’ve avoided treatment because I dislike medication due to past experiences and my last hospital visit didn’t go well, so I’m afraid of the next one.
Dominant distortion: Emotional Reasoning
Patient question: From a teen in Jordan: My parents are humanitarian workers, so we travel to developing countries around the world. We moved to Jordan last week, and because the English speaking schools are too expensive, my parents put me in a French high school. In my old school, I was a hard working straight A student, and I took my grades very seriously. However, being in this school completely destroyed me. Being a non-fluent French speaker, I couldn’t understand any of the classes and would always get a 50% grade.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: Ever since i was young, I’ve had brutal homicidal fanaticise. All i think about is killing. It can be kids, adults, dogs, i don’t care. It’s a sick joy. I’ve hurt animals before and i would again. I don’t want power or control, i didn’t have a traumatising childhood and I’m a happy person. I get depressed and anxious when i think about it and don’t do anything for a long time I’ll lay in bed for days and just feel numb or anxious. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to tell my parents in order to get help. I collect knives so they’ll probably take them away. I don’t have any friends or anyone i can trust. No one knows i feel this way. I don’t feel angry, I’m not at all a serious person, i just laugh at horror movies or when im in pain. I can’t keep waiting in alley ways waiting for cats to kill i need something. It’s just getting worse. I’m 16 and want to wait til I have my own place until I do anything. Otherwise ill most likely be caught. I’ve thought out ways to get away with it for years. I can control myself now but I don’t think I will be able to for ever. What should I do?

Distorted part: I can control myself now but I don’t think I will be able to for ever.
Dominant distortion: Fortune-telling
Patient question: From a teen in the Netherlands: I feel so confused.Since I was 10, I have been an anxious person. I was bullied around that time, and I have always been made fun of. I feel like that never really affected me. Then, when I was 12, I remember feeling horrible sensations inside me. I don´t know if those feelings were sadness or anxiety, I just remember being in mere pain. Then, after I turned 13, those feelings were decreasing in intensity. I was definitely still anxious, but I guess I was used to it, so I really cannot remember my emotional experience at that time.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: Hello! I’m struggling for now 4 years without telling it to anyone. I’m just not happy and I’m done feeling like this. I always thought that that was just a phase and it would go away with time but everything got worse when I entered middle school, I started having strong body image issues, I even got an eating disorder for two years. But since summer 2015, I kind of controlled this eating disorder and I’ve been eating “normally” since. But throwing up every time I was eating was my way to feel like I was in control, but since I tried to recover from it, I feel like I have nothing in control, so I found this feeling of control in self-harm but my anxiety got even worser. It became so unhealthy that it has an impact on my physical health. I’m not trying to get a diagnosis but just some advices on how to talk to my parents (that know absolutely nothing about it, they just think I’m someone very nervous) even if I know that it would tear them apart to know that I self-harmed and how bad I feel. Or is there a way to make them subtly understand that something’s wrong without directly going to them? Thank you very much for reading this!

Distorted part: I’m not trying to get a diagnosis but just some advices on how to talk to my parents (that know absolutely nothing about it, they just think I’m someone very nervous) even if I know that it would tear them apart to know that I self-harmed and how bad I feel.
Dominant distortion: Mind Reading
Patient question: From the U.S.: My Boyfriend & I have been dating on & off for 6 years! (He’s the love of my life and we envision a future together) Our sex life has always been our main hub of communication and intimacy! Its been a place of closeness, understanding & a mutually powerful place in our relationship. The past year & a half, we have moved in together & been taking our future/our relationship more seriously than we have in the past.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: from the U.S.: My earliest, clear childhood memories began at about age 10-11. From what I’ve read, blocked memories are most often associated with some kind of traumatic event, but what I can recollect of my childhood was, while certainly not perfect, generally happy. (Although I suppose the whole point of this is that if there was trauma and I’ve blocked out the memory, of course I wouldn’t remember it…? It’s all a little frustrating.)

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: For many years now my partner has insisted he needs to rest a lot. He rests for hours after coming home from work and spends all afternoon on the couch sleeping on the weekends. Yet he is not distressed by this and he doesn’t ask his doctor to fully investigate this or continue going back saying I’m still tired. And when he’s been offered referrals to suitable specialists refuses to go. Hence I’m wondering if this is a red flag in a relationship. In the past I’ve raised this issue asking him to get his fatigue fully investigated and to take up any referral offers advising of it’s impact on our relationship (limited activities together, no kids as I felt he wouldn’t cope with active kids plus being unfair on kids to be cooped up due to their father being too tired to be active with them) as well as saying it can’t be very pleasant for you to feel like this and wouldn’t it be better to feel less tired and have the energy to do things. I’ve also suggested sedentary activities but he’s not interested. He also doesn’t want to take any medication not even vitamins or trial antidepressants. It is hard on the partner as the partner starts off feeling sorry for the fatigued person and accommodates their need to rest to find several years down the track they’ve spent their life sitting on the couch rather than living life. And I’m thinking it’s just not normal to have this excessive need for rest yet not be distressed by this. I could understand more if he had health problems that couldn’t be treated but he tests as being very healthy and somehow has a high level of fitness. A bit of context – he does appear to have OCPD but many people with OCPD aren’t chronically fatigued. I’ve extensively tried to get out on my own to build my own life and am now in the process of preparing to leave. I’d like to have the opinion of psych central as we hear a lot about red flags but I’ve not read much about this one which can be used as another way to control someone. (From Australia)

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: Hello, I have recently started treatment for anxiety – SSRIs and CBT. During my visits to my GP and my therapist I have mentioned about what is happening in my head which my GP seems to think is voices while my therapist see as negative automatic thoughts.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: From the U.S.: All of this happened in the past ten months: My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers and cancer.. . my mom and stepfather were forced into assisted living. at my moms’ I found evidence I possibly had a different birth father, my mom had an affair with a married man when I was little. My mother said he was NOT my father. He recently died.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: I fake all emotions and interactions, and I hate sex: I’ve been tossed around to several therapists and psychologists, because at an early age I loved to kill things; bugs, frogs, birds, etc. I don’t know what it is that’s caused me to be that way, but whatever. All I know is that whenever any random emotion has struck me, I’m quick to thinking about killing. It used to be wanting to kill small animals with my step-dad’s old hunting knife, but now it’s progressed to wanting to kill people. Nobody really in specific, unless there’s a person who has directly given me hell. Many people fake emotion every day, but I feel like I fake them all, except for anger. I want to use knives and sharp objects to sever a person’s aorta, and I want to watch the lights in their eyes go out; I don’t want it for the blood, I don’t want it for any reason other than to kill. I can’t explain it. The only thing close to this that I’ve been able to find in my studies is sociopathy or sadism. Neither of these seem to fit me though, because both conditions usually include having some kind of sexual need. Sociopaths typically excessively masturbate, whereas I never have. Sadists usually yearn for a masochistic sexual partner to torture and humiliate, whereas I’ve never wanted it. Sex has always been a thing that I find disgusting, messy, and unnecessary for recreation. I have a girlfriend who wants sex, and I’ve always just had to act like I want it too, but honestly, I’d rather be doing anything else than having sex. I seem to fit the profile of a sociopath because of the whole lacking empathy thing, but I don’t rejoice (nor mourn) in the act of manipulating people for any reason. I don’t want to know what’s wrong so that I can get help – I just don’t want to end up having to go to prison. I want to know how to control my urges before they control me. If that takes getting help, so be it, but if there’s any other way, I’d love to know. Thank you.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: From a teen in South Africa: So from what other people have told me, I’m not exactly considered normal. People often seem to find my behaviour odd. I’m very introverted. I spend days at a time sitting in my room without anyone else, and I’ve had full blown conversations with myself for hours on end while doing so. I tend to talk to myself very often, even in public without realising it. Usually I recite the numbers “1 2 9 10 5 9” if I realise that I’m talking to myself in public because I start to panic and think people are going to think I’m strange even when no one has noticed. It’s something that’s been happening for a long time now where i will suddenly just say something out loud and realise that I said it and a sudden panic comes over me so I recite those numbers to calm myself down, sometimes I add other random numbers between 1 and 10 as well.

Distorted part: People often seem to find my behaviour odd. I’m very introverted.  Usually I recite the numbers “1 2 9 10 5 9” if I realise that I’m talking to myself in public because I start to panic and think people are going to think I’m strange even when no one has noticed.
Dominant distortion: Labeling
Secondary distortion: Mind Reading
Patient question: Basically, I’ve come in search of help with anger management. I was raised with very strict, religious, over protective parents who constantly had violent arguments, taught me to shut down my emotions and to not express my feelings (at least not in healthy ways), taught me that the world is a dangerous, untrustworthy place, and that I cannot trust anyone. As a result, I have grown up to be very nervous, very shy, unable to trust others, unable to express love easily, unable to deal with negative thoughts or emotions in a productive fashion, afraid to be independent in the world, and constantly feel like I can’t make something successful of myself. I wasn’t always like this. I remember in my early childhood that I loved to socialize, explore the world, learn, I had dreams that I honestly thought I could reach. I was more positive, hopeful, and optimistic. Now, I feel as though all I ever feel is anger. I’m so restless. I want to do something, have fun, grow up , stop being so shy, and improve as a person, but, I don’t know where to start. And with my parents not permitting me to go out on my own, or even express my feelings to them without them thinking I’m possessed or something, I feel trapped.I’m not a bad kid. I’m sure of that. I mess up here and there but I really try. Ask anyone. I’ve been obedient, respectful, polite, patient for as long as I can remember, but, lately, only with my parents, have I been lashing out at. Of course, not physically, but I have been getting more violent recently. I’ve gotten into the habit of breaking things around me when I’m angry and just screaming and crying. It’s scaring me. I don’t want to hurt anyone. My parents have done so much for me, and I know they have tried their best at raising me, but, I can’t help but blame them for how I turned out and feel angry at them. Maybe it’s my fault and I’m too ashamed to accept that so I take it out on them? I just need guidance. I need a plan, a place to start. I hate this feeling of cluelessness as it makes me feel breathless and trapped. Thank you for listening to his wacky 16 year old rant.

Distorted part: As a result, I have grown up to be very nervous, very shy, unable to trust others, unable to express love easily, unable to deal with negative thoughts or emotions in a productive fashion, afraid to be independent in the world, and constantly feel like I can’t make something successful of myself.
Dominant distortion: Emotional Reasoning
Secondary distortion: Fortune-telling
Patient question: From a teen in the U.S.: So here is my situation: I have anxiety for quite a few situations. It is not ONLY social situations or for a specific phobia. I have the typical anxiety symptoms (though mild in comparison to those who throw up, have panic attacks, etc) when I am a) thinking about an impending social event/school event/ceremony where I will have to interact with someone other than my two best friends and my family/being there without them/arriving without them and being uncertain about little things such as where to sit b) on my way to those events c) during these events (unless I was super overreacting and I actually have fun) d) when I think about storms e) at doctors offices, esp before shots or blood pressure tests. I had my first and only panic attack when I was told I would be getting a shot I had not mentally prepared for f) when I feel like a nuisance for employees at restaurants (my family is being slow, etc) g) when I have to speak in front of people, any context h) when I think about impending overwhelming things and what is due, like homework and fitting in work and applying for colleges (that one is pretty normal I think) i) when my dad is late picking me up from an event or something, and it has gotten worse since I turned 16 because everyone around me leaves on their own terms. I sometimes just worry about being pitied or thought about in any sense, as I stick out as waiting, and sometimes I worry that my dad has gotten into an accident or something and I get really anxious j) driving. everything about it. I cant. k) the thought of making new friends/dating

Distorted part: I sometimes just worry about being pitied or thought about in any sense, as I stick out as waiting, and sometimes I worry that my dad has gotten into an accident or something and I get really anxious
Dominant distortion: Emotional Reasoning
Secondary distortion: Fortune-telling
Patient question: I don’t know what’s wrong with me. My parents are divorced. I moved to this country. My brother moved back to England to be with my dad. My mum and step-dad were alcoholics and my step-brothers were mean. I think I might have abandonment PTSD, but I have no abandonment issues. I was technically abused but it was neglect mostly and doesn’t feel worthy of being called abuse. My mother is kind of a child, I’ve spent most of my life since I was 10 or 13 looking after her, especially after her second divorce. In which I sometimes had to put her to bed. I was often a mediator between her and my stepfather. The pair cried to me rather often. When they divorced, my step dad told me he’d still be here for me if I needed him, but I recently tried to reconnect with him to no avail. I understand that “I’m here for you” is never a sentence for the recipient but rather the speaker, to make them feel good. I understand that people are self-centered and small-minded. I had a history of instigating chaos by constantly breaking the law, trespassing, stealing, vandalism. I’m well behaved now, but I still have memories and old pains of my youth. All of the times people said they’d be there for me. My attempted suicide. My mother’s attempted suicide. The time when I was dragged up the stairs by my hair. The rumors in middle school that lead to people fearing me for no reason, and the times that I let the rumors change me, and I hurt people. The boyfriend who gunned me down with a bb gun, almost blinding me, and on a separate occasion (after breaking up) the time that he threw a chair at me. My best friend who left me because I’m “childish, spend too much time with my boyfriend, and disrespect my mother”. My mother who actually assaulted my boyfriend once. Man, she would get so out of her face sometimes that she… A couple of times back at my stepdads, she would barge into my room (she did that a lot) and throw suitcases on the floor, demanding that I pack so that we’d leave, but I, a 13-year-old, knew better than to get in the car with a drunk. On many occasions, I barricaded myself in my room, hid in my closet, or on the roof. I sometimes went without food because my step brothers ate everything. I had my own secret pantry of snacks and I was still underweight. I don’t know, I’m just throwing out all the information I think could use some help.

Distorted part: I understand that people are self-centered and small-minded.
Dominant distortion: Labeling
Patient question: For the past 6 years my father-in-law has been suffering from some kind of mental illness. He is now 90 years old and physically reasonably healthy for his age. His problem is that he seems to completely believe that he can’t do anything and that he is on the way out. Anything that we do to help him he is convinced is killing him. He will do nothing for himself and needs to be strongly encouraged to the point of pushing to do anything. By anything I mean eating, drinking, getting up, washing, going to the toilet, standing-up Etc. He will physically try to resist, shouts at the top of his voice “I can’t, I can’t”, makes all sort of totally illogical excuses etc. He won’t feed himself but although he shouts and says it’s killing him, he will open his mouth and take the food. He cannot make any decisions, doesn’t want to engage in conversation or talk to people. However with patience and when he is not being pushed to do anything he will answer questions, he will get involved in doing the crossword and will show some interest in the newspaper and TV. At these times it is clear that he has no loss of memory (over any time period) and is fully aware of what is going on. He is as good as anyone at the crossword and will make sensible comments about sport, current affairs etc. Even though he won’t get up himself to go to the toilet, occasionally during the night he will. In the past he has been prescribed different anti-depressants but these just made him a zombie without any benefit. We have tried seeing a psychiatrist but he was not willing to open up and could thus not make any progress. We are pretty much resigned to the fact that he is not going to get any better however there is always the worry; is there anything else we could do. Despite much searching I can’t seem to find any similar cases or clear explanations. The local mental health teams and even a private psychiatrist have been very unhelpful either saying “classical depression” before prescribing drugs or saying that its “one of those things, at his age if it wasn’t this it would be something else” (and that was 6 years ago). Any explanation, suggestions would be most welcome.

Distorted part: We are pretty much resigned to the fact that he is not going to get any better however there is always the worry; is there anything else we could do.
Dominant distortion: Fortune-telling
Patient question: From a teen in Ireland: My father, somewhat a former drunkard, beat my little brother and my older sister (and my mother) – but I strangely can’t recall him beating me. I am gay and I am quite certain my sister and I have developed BPD thanks to him, but that is not the problem. I don’t speak to my father, though we live under the same roof. He speaks more to my other siblings.

Dominant distortion: No Distortion
Patient question: I don’t know where to begin. It seems stupid just to come here and write about what’s wrong with me. Or what I think is wrong with me. All my problems seem made up by myself. I ocassionally feel depressed, but I don’t deserve to be depressed. I have everything in my life to be happy: family, some friends, upper middle class upbringing, material things. I feel guilty and ungrateful.

Distorted part: Or what I think is wrong with me. All my problems seem made up by myself. I ocassionally feel depressed, but I don’t deserve to be depressed.  I feel guilty and ungrateful.
Dominant distortion: Personalization