... what I was seeking was 'acknowledgement.' And I also felt pretty strongly about not having my feelings 'dismissed,' or 'invalidated,' simply because he could not necessarily relate or understand.
I can relate to this. In my limited experience with emotional avoiders I've noted that they seem uncomfortable with feelings, particularly when such feelings are expressed in emotional ways such as anger, sadness (crying), and so forth. Not only do they not understand the feelings; they're unnerved by them. They just want the (other person's) feelings to go away.
