For https://steemit.com/freewrite/@mariannewest/day-545-5-minute-freewrite-thursday-prompt-gut-reaction

Gut reaction. My gut reaction to other people's stress is my own stress. I mean, I feel their pain. It's mildly useful empathy, in that it motivates me to help them find a resolution. But sometimes it gets in the way, because I feel anguish that can sometimes be distracting.

Distracting. I'm feeling better now. The person I helped was helped to find their resolution by another, and everybody is happy.

It's not that it's distracting per se, but I feel such a need to not make it worse, that sometimes I don't have the sense to take a breath and go looking for more information before I start to help, nor do I spend time explaining to someone else what is wrong and what I'm trying to fix it. Sometimes this is probably appreciated. I know when I call a customer service rep, I just want them to fix my problem, I don't care how, and they ALWAYS explain to me what they're doing, and I really don't want them to. But it's possible that if I explained to others what's happening they'd be feeling better about the amount of time it's taking.

Oh. That's time.

Anyways. I am smart enough to know when I'm distracted and suggest they talk to someone who knows more than I do. And I did put them in contact with that person, and now everything is resolved.