Feel so stupid and embarrassed for oversharing

[Movablefeast]

I feel actually ashamed of myself. I told someone in an email that I have never met how I lost both my parents as a teen and my son is being treated for cancer. This was entirely volunteered by me and I never usually even mention to people about my parents as it is extremely rare it ever comes up naturally.

I gave myself permission to blurt this out as I knew this person had shared publically about their own childhood trauma. We had exchanged one email that was normal and professional and then in my second email I revealed this ! I have not received a reply and feel like a complete idiot and that the other person will think I am a nut job.

It was a religious context as this person is the same faith as me and leads workshops and retreats.

Now I don't know what possessed me and feel very embarrassed that I volunteered a load of information that I usually would never mention to someone I don't know!

Poor you. Could you possibly send a follow up message saying what you have told us? Don't be too hard on yourself, it obvioulsy needed to come out

I think that makes me sound even worse and needy! And what if the follow-up is also ignored? I feel I could just keep digging an embarrassing hole even deeper....

Don't be embarrassed, you don't need this person's response to validate your feelings. Some people are not good at responding to personal things, could be they don't want to say the wrong thing so think saying nothing is better. Don't sweat it, you did nothing to be embarrassed about, honesty and openness are ok, regardless of how people react (or don't react).

You haven't embarrassed yourself. You acted with empathy and reached out to someone with a similar experience. Hopefully you will still be you and do the same the next time.

Although you may be fell into the email trap. It is hurtful not to get a reply from an email. But that is not a reflection on you. Maybe they are not the type of person you thought they were, or maybe you'll get a reply in 2 months.

Don't be too hard in yourself. I hope that you and your son are okay . When things are tough, your resilience is lowered and things that you should be able to get past become mountains.

Thanks stripy but I wasn't emphatic at all as they did not mention their background to me personally, I just talked about myself! Although my email was short and to the point. So inappropriate ...

Just wanted to let you all know I got a lovely email reply !
don't feel such a complete twat now!

Lovely! :)

Pleased to hear it!

Great news but even if you hadn't I was just about to post that you didn't over share - you just shared . It's ok.