I treat everyone like a loaded gun.

I realized something about myself. Any good firearms instructor will tell you to treat every gun like it's loaded. That it's dangerous and it could easily kill you or anyone else, and should be treated like such.

I've been treating talking to others the same way. Treat everyone like they will misconstrue what I say, automatically assume malice any time I miss a social cue, and ostracize me for any reason they can find. This is because I have been treated this way in the past.

And this is a miserable way to live.