Brene Brown Atlas of the Heart p. 120-122
When someone says "I feel sorry for you" or "that must be terrible," they are standing at a safe distrance. Rather than conveying the powerful "me too" of empathy, it communicates "not me," then adds, "But I do feel sorry for you." Sympathy can even be a trigger for shame.
Brene Brown Atlas of the Heart p. 124
With others