Extreme sensitivity

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I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem. I am way, way too easily emotionally affected, to the point where it gives other people power over me. If somebody says something that upsets me, it doesn't go through my thoughts first, it goes directly to my heart and upsets me instantly. Phrases like "don't let it get to you" or "no point being upset over that" make no sense to me, because it's never a choice to let it bother me or not. It makes as much sense to me as someone saying "If someone shoots a bullet at you, don't let it hit you". You'd hardly have much choice not to let a bullet penetrate your body, it goes with such force you can't stop it. I just can't "think" my way out of being upset the way NTs can.

This is a large part of why I've become so insecure and why I'm afraid to leave the house. Even going to class can provoke a panic attack if someone shoots down one of my points or a controversial topic is brought up. I probably sound like a spoiled, whiny child saying this, but I really am that easily hurt and that afraid. It's become almost crippling - a bit like having severe osteoporosis and being able to be incapacitated by the slightest injury.

Does anyone else experience this, or have any advice?

Yes, too sensitive and no matter how often I am hurt and vow to develop a thicker skin, it doesn't seem to change. I abhor that others can affect my emotions so easily.

Yep, this is exactly how I am...and I hate it. I'm curious to see how many more females respond to this post and say they're like this too. So far it looks like it might be a common female Aspie problem. I wish I had some advice for you, but I definitely have yet to learn how to deal with being so sensitive.

Yeah, I get over emotional. Someone will say something that upsets me, and it just takes over my conscience. I can't sleep or concentrate on anything. It usually takes a good day or two before I completely come down from getting upset.

My dad is exact opposite. He can go from one emotion to the next with no trouble. I hated him for that as a child, because he would lose his temper and be yelling one minute, and the next he would be calm and talking to my mom like nothing had happened.

I do think this has something to do with "black and white " thinking....everything is all or nothing....they either hate you or like you,so any negative response is seen as....they hate me.ANd every time I get the sense "they hate me"....my thought pattern use to be very extreme......I might as well kill myself,no one will ever like me,everyone hates me.....this is an issue of cognitive response and can be changed by recognising when it is happening and trying to replace it with a more "realistic" message.....
"someone did not agree with my idea."<----thats reality.It takes practice to change the natural response to out counter productive messages(internal dialogue)but it is the first step and can be changed a little(offer some relief from the anxiety).


I also think that we "accumulate".....never let anything go.....so every time we hear a negative message....it isnt in isolation but a pattern of negative messages.They add up(or multiply)each other.

You might be interested in reading some theories of "Rational Emotive Therapy"....I dont agree with it all,but some of it has been helpful.


I tend to have both responses.Over react to the smallest "slight" and sort of an indifference to what others think or feel about me.......I dont respect them,so why do I care what they think about my ideas?It is usually only people I like or respect who hurt my feelings....then it is way out of proportion and I feel depressed,usless,hopeless....yuck,I'm working on it.

I'm afraid of rejection as well. It's weird because in general I don't care what people think about me anymore, but then in individual cases I seem to take things really personally and be bothered by it more than most people.

I feel like I am either 1000x too sensitive or just "blank," unaffected even when I should be.