... you are having such a bad day, you react badly to ANYTHING that is said.

My MD told me he had run into Alex at the shopping centre and looked really good. This was at a time when Alex only showed his face on days he wasn't nauseous or exhausted, was at least 10kgs underweight and was clearly not looking good. Did I take this as encouragement as I should have? Nah!

My immediate response (on the inside luckily) was to get defensive. My interpretation was that our MD was questioning the amount of time off I was taking since Alex was clearly doing so well.

Our poor well meaning friends and acquaintances don't have a chance as on some days we will handle and think nothing of their comments and indeed, may welcome them. On others we will go off like a firecracker at the same comment.