Why do peers ask what I'm up too professionally then talk about themselves?
I keep experiencing being asked 'what are you doing?' and 'what are you up to work-wise' right now, and there seems to be a minute of listening to my answer, then being talked over, interrupted or cut off, only to hear about the other person's life and what they've been doing, or a complete diversion to something else that's happening in the room with someone else or another conversation. I feel ashamed of even opening my mouth, and that what I am doing is not validated somehow. I also have started censoring myself, just to get something out of my mouth in case I get cut off. I have also started to ask what everyone else is up too. When I do talk about myself in length after being asked and share achievements, I sometimes get greeted with silence and a coldness. Then I find myself trying to make up for having achieved. I work in the theatre industry. Any thoughts would be welcomed.