Yep. My tools for handling negative emotion are those of problem solving. If someone wants me to give any emotional thought to their issues -- that is, anything

Yep. My tools for handling negative emotion are those of problem solving. If someone wants me to give any emotional thought to their issues -- that is, anything more than an expressionless "that sucks" -- then it's going to involve me thinking of solutions for the problem at hand. To deny me that is to force me to struggle with a difficult emotion I can't process for hours or days. (To be clear -- I am glad to do that, when the problem doesn't have a solution! Death of a loved one, annoying co-workers, etc.)