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
Get the Emotional Minesweepermug. When several powerful and sometimes negative emotions appear simultaneously and cause a cognitive meltdown. The person usually acts harshly as a result or sometimes simply shuts down for a time as a result.
He told her she looked nice today but she immediately thought of all the men who had been abusive to her so her emotional epilepsy caused a strange reaction because she spit on him.
by itkillz July 25, 2017
Get the emotional epilepsymug. The feeling of being overwhelmed by virtual love and affection from another person but without a viable outlet to express this love, so you end up feeling sad and alone.
Friend 1: Ugh, i’m getting major emotional blue balls right now from my long-distance girlfriend.
Friend 2: What? Why?
Friend 1: look at this sweet paragraph she just sent.
Friend 2: What? Why?
Friend 1: look at this sweet paragraph she just sent.
by haileyray June 21, 2021
Get the emotional blue ballsmug. A poor person in a movie about rich people who only exists to teach the wealth-scarred protagonist(s) how to feel or act like humans
“Sam has such a loving family and he’s got his act together. It’s almost like he’s the rich guy instead of Derrick”
“Sam’s family showed up once on screen, and he has no problems or personality of his own. He’s just an emotional support poor.”
“Sam’s family showed up once on screen, and he has no problems or personality of his own. He’s just an emotional support poor.”
by Sapphic_Santana March 20, 2022
Get the emotional support poormug. emotions that have been built up for a long time and you just fucking go off randomly or have a break down because of it.
by thebeautyofitall June 17, 2019
Get the stored emotionsmug. i'am going to tell them the truth i am not going to tiptoe around there "Emotional Eggshells" any more.
by DosGhost June 6, 2017
Get the Emotional Eggshellsmug. Awkward, unattractive, or unhealthy emotional or mental traits mostly invisible to the person possessing them but evident from to others is in their vicinity from certain angles. Neither necessarily unattractive nor inherently desirable.
“Sure, I’ve got some emotional backfat; it gives me an extra layer of protection against the icy chill of your critiques.”
by Ttrp2cn2b January 23, 2023
Get the emotional backfatmug.