Emotional Minesweeper is a situation in which you are unable to predict how a person will react to your actions or statements. In this situation, you may "step on an emotional landmine" and be blindsided by the person you're interacting with "blowing up" at you. It's so unexpected that they misinterpret your confusion for a lack of empathy, adding fuel to the fire.
To avoid putting someone in Emotional Minesweeper, evaluate whether or not they could have predicted that their words or actions would have hurt you. It's generally safer to ask if they have relevant context, and explain how you feel to them in a way they can understand. Generally, if people know how you feel and why you feel that way, they will do their best to be supportive and respectful. More often than not, people don't know they're doing anything wrong.
A popular synonym is "walking on eggshells."
To avoid putting someone in Emotional Minesweeper, evaluate whether or not they could have predicted that their words or actions would have hurt you. It's generally safer to ask if they have relevant context, and explain how you feel to them in a way they can understand. Generally, if people know how you feel and why you feel that way, they will do their best to be supportive and respectful. More often than not, people don't know they're doing anything wrong.
A popular synonym is "walking on eggshells."
"Hey are you doing ok?"
"I could be better. I've been playing Emotional Minesweeper with my mom all weekend, and it's taking a toll on me."
"That's not good. Does she even tell you what you did wrong?"
"She never tells me until after I make the mistake, and she always rages hard about it."
"Dude, you should probably talk to the school counselor. This sounds like abuse, and they may be able to give you resources to help you navigate the situation."
"You sound way too smart for a high-schooler."
"This isn't real, John. We're an example in an Urban Dictionary definition."
"I could be better. I've been playing Emotional Minesweeper with my mom all weekend, and it's taking a toll on me."
"That's not good. Does she even tell you what you did wrong?"
"She never tells me until after I make the mistake, and she always rages hard about it."
"Dude, you should probably talk to the school counselor. This sounds like abuse, and they may be able to give you resources to help you navigate the situation."
"You sound way too smart for a high-schooler."
"This isn't real, John. We're an example in an Urban Dictionary definition."
by Majestical Discomfort May 7, 2024
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by FrenchVanillaSake March 2, 2025
Get the 《¤》When《¤》People《¤》Inflict《¤》Damage《¤》I《¤》Do《¤》Not《¤》Feel《¤》Pain《¤》Or《¤》Emotions《¤》 mug.by D378u July 22, 2018
Get the Emotion Player mug.Just as color perception (and in turn blindness) exists on a spectrum, so too does the ability to experience emotions.
Most people who experience color deficiency, do not have issues with all color (red and green are most common). Color blindness can also come with heightened awareness in other areas...like better than average night vision or a keener sense of smell.
These details parallel well when describing people with emotional deficiencies, in that:
(1.) Someone on the spectrum for narcissistic traits, often still keenly feels rage, envy, hatred and fear.
(2.) Narcissists experience the above emotions more often and at greater intensity than the average person, BECAUSE they lack the ability to feel other emotions (like empathy) which might otherwise (ironically) diminish and balance those feelings out.
(3.) Even a full blown psychopath with no neurotypical fear response, (I.E. only feels an adrenaline rush) is not 100% emotionally colorblind. They still experience pleasure in a limited, ego driven sort of way. If this were not the case, they would have no motivation to do anything, (including anything bad.)
(4.) Total lack of emotional feeling and complete colorblindness, are both incredibly rare, and can signal something more serious...like a brain injury or a neurological condition.
Most people who experience color deficiency, do not have issues with all color (red and green are most common). Color blindness can also come with heightened awareness in other areas...like better than average night vision or a keener sense of smell.
These details parallel well when describing people with emotional deficiencies, in that:
(1.) Someone on the spectrum for narcissistic traits, often still keenly feels rage, envy, hatred and fear.
(2.) Narcissists experience the above emotions more often and at greater intensity than the average person, BECAUSE they lack the ability to feel other emotions (like empathy) which might otherwise (ironically) diminish and balance those feelings out.
(3.) Even a full blown psychopath with no neurotypical fear response, (I.E. only feels an adrenaline rush) is not 100% emotionally colorblind. They still experience pleasure in a limited, ego driven sort of way. If this were not the case, they would have no motivation to do anything, (including anything bad.)
(4.) Total lack of emotional feeling and complete colorblindness, are both incredibly rare, and can signal something more serious...like a brain injury or a neurological condition.
I've never heard someone say they wish they were colorblind, but I've heard a ton of people say they wish they lacked certain feelings, because they think it would solve all their problems. This is kind of like thinking you could avoid getting stuck in traffic if you no longer saw the red in a red light. Emotion is not the heart of the problem.
Emotional color blindness might very well take away things like: codependence, trauma responses and making personal sacrifices for conscientious decisions...but it would also diminish your capacity for joy and your ability to have meaningful relationships with anybody.
Better to sort out the kinks, then throw the whole baby out with the bathwater.
Emotional color blindness might very well take away things like: codependence, trauma responses and making personal sacrifices for conscientious decisions...but it would also diminish your capacity for joy and your ability to have meaningful relationships with anybody.
Better to sort out the kinks, then throw the whole baby out with the bathwater.
by Olive989 March 15, 2023
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It was so good between us. It kept getting better then one day, I was told that he needed time to sort out some things. I had to put my emotions on ice, now I have emotional blueballs.
by tyrannicalpie August 23, 2017
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