My gosh, have I heard that little put-down way too many times in my life. It mostly came from my father. Sometimes it came from my mother or my brother or my sister, or especially my grandmother. Whoever said it got me even more huffy. Soon I’d cry and ALSO be a crybaby.
Being sensitive was a part of my nature. I couldn’t exactly become someone else just so they could insult me with great impunity and not feel bad about it.
I’m bringing that up now, because I’ve finally developed the skill of not taking other people’s insults, snipes, and passive aggressive digs to heart. So that’s good. Yep.
But. I’m still sensitive. This linguist can handle words better, but I’m annoyingly sensitive to the moods, affect, and unspoken signals of others. Sometimes it’s general malaise, like after an election. Other times someone in my close circle sends out signals of distress or negativity and it gets me.
I’ll skip over specific examples, but my LLL friends will know a few that made my physically ill, and there was a church person and more recently a coworker.
Luckily I read the Highly Sensitive Person books, and realized I wasn’t alone, and that sensitivity is a positive trait in many ways. It can just get to you sometimes. (Read these books if you haven’t!)
I appear to be hyper sensitive to someone or something right now, too. I just started shaking, experiencing chest pains, and getting eye twitches. And there’s nothing wrong in my life other than having lots to do in all my jobs and volunteering! One again, annoying.
Now, this ability to sense things going on with people is actually a gift (I hear my therapist reminding me of that). And usually it’s not so pressing. So, I think I’ll send good thoughts out to whomever I’m co-feeling with right now and be glad I no longer think I cause this stuff.
We all have our quirks, and I’m still “too sensitive,” but I’m no longer a crybaby and no longer let put-downs define me!
ahem. The symptoms can go away now, really.
The Hermits' Rest 
You’re an empath too, which can be great, but also horrible at times. You are sensitive, you also care deeply. I get feeling overloads and have to figure out if feelings I have are mine, or someone else’s. That’s a place I have found myself in currently. No matter how grounded, how shielded, how prepared and ready you are, things still seep in. I can’t wait to see you on Friday, I meant what I said last Friday.
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Thanks.
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It may be a gift, but those symptoms are no fun.
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