Yeah, sometimes people just want a sounding board.. a sympathetic ear and it makes them feel better. A trouble shared and all that.

I can be objective usually and give advice if needed.

But I know what you mean it's a different story sorting out your own shit.

It's because the mind is reflexive. In other words you can have thoughts about thoughts and thoughts about feelings.

It's possible to be anxious about your own anxiety, nervous about being nervous, etc.

It's like the layers you were talking about.

But another person doesn't experience all these internal mental events that are going on. They just get the external behaviour and the communication from you.