(Putting a little warning here for a less than ideal attitude to the idea of getting better / prioritising one's own needs / being a “burden”.)
Whumpee's been told they need to recover, but they're not sure that's actually a good idea?
They know about recovery. Recovery is messy and complicated and hurtful. It means taking up space and making people upset. It means backslides and breakdowns. It means mourning.
Isn't it better for whumpee to just stay as they are? Sure, they're not really a person right now, let alone a well-adjusted one, but they're functioning. Maybe they're unobtrusive and obedient, and aren't those good traits? Maybe they're stoic and efficient, and aren't those qualities widely praised?
Surely no one actually wants them to be emotional, be upset, take up space, demand thinks they want, set boundaries? Surely they're much easier to look after the way they are? People say “you need to recover” but whumpee thinks those people would probably like them less if they tried to.
