EMO - Comments

You're right Mykaela, labels are for soup cans, not people.
I think that society labels people like you and me because they're scared of things that can't be classified with a label. Humans need to know what everything is, and why it's like that, labeling people helps society to deal with they're differences, and it makes them feel safer because they think they know how to deal with your 'type' of person.
My situation is kind of similar to yours I guess, walking through the hallways in school makes me feel self concious, and by the time I've gotten to the end of the hall, I feel like hyperventilating...I haven't resorted to cutting yet, because I really don't want to fit into societies opinion of 'emo', I tried it once, and my mum almost saw, that scared me into never trying it again, because I just know that if my mum thinks I'm hurting myself, then I'll be an emo in her eyes too. She'd probably put me in a home or something too. So, even though you probably posted this journal as a way to release your emotions, I just wanted to say thanks, for helping me release mine :)

I kinda do that. If someone/people are laughing, they are automatically laughing at me. Not matter what. Even if I know what there laughing about. They're still somehow laughing at me.

I know how it feels. Fifteen, yes, a bit young for it, bu it's a "stage" some people hit that is just inevitable. I started at age twelve, also replacing food with cutting.. Having stopped recently, my best friend and I have TOO much in common, practically sisters, we tell each other, "I swear, my mum forgot to have you!" Well, bottom line is, we quit together, and have been looking for something else to maybe replace it, something healthy, that will help us make progress not just stop but stick to the same negative state of mind...So I found a way :) We'll wear a bracelet, I'm not sure if you've heard of this, but I fell in LOVE with the idea <3 ANYWAYS, we'll wear a bracelet for twenty one days and every time we complain we must switch it to the other wrist, thus starting the cycle over. If and when the bracelet remains on that same wrist its been on for the past twenty one days, it means we have achieved a positive mindset, we'll see things through new eyes. It'll be quite the journey, but I have someone to make it with, and that make it worth while.

Thank You for writing this. It nearly made me cry, know why? Cuz I'm exactly the same. I dress the same and listen to the same music. I used to cut as well until my mom found out also. I just wanted to say I know what it's like. I always feel like I'm not good enough or I'm doing something wrong. I know you probably don't care but I just wanted to say Thank You. <3

I understand the anxiety thing better than you could imagine, but the whole forced to stop thing sort of shows why people might make assumptions - there are better ways to learn how to cope. Sadly, things like medication sometimes help. Finding other coping strategies work.

You may be "more than an appearance", but people's first impressions will always be based on appearance (and interests) alone. You should expect to be judged/stereotyped, because that's what we do as people. It happens.

Trying to explain yourself will probably have the opposite effect, because everyone expects emo kids to get on the defensive about being labeled, and every one of them will say how they're an individual. When you willingly fit a stereotype, you should expect to see it happen.

I totally know how you feel about the whole anxiety thing, because I have pretty much the same anxiety disorder. I've been prescribed medication and such but I don't take it instead I write. Plus, who wants to listen to music about a pizza girl, the music we like is generally better :)

Nice entry. Long, but nice.

I just read a story about cutting that I could really relate to. Red Tears by Joanna Kerrick. I loved it because the author captured the reader's mind and feelings completely.

Spell checker got me. I fixed it.

...EM?