Is it normal that i'm this sensitive?
Every since I was young I was very sensitive. By sensitive I mean being affected by things around me, people around me, bodily feelings, noises, movements...just anything in general. I am always on guard and I watch and pay too much attention to little details. What bothers me the most is my sensitivity towards people and how I let them affect me. When I feel like someone does or says something wrong to me, I get so hurt and emotional that I can't function normally. When someone points out something that they consider "bad" about my character/personality, I feel on the verge of tears and sometimes I actually cry because I don't know how else to handle it. I've heard a lot that I need to get a thicker skin but I don't know how. In my mind, I picture how much easier life would be if I could be more assertive. Being mean to people who are mean to me just takes a heavy toll on me - I can't do it and I hate myself for that. Even if I stand up for myself, I feel like I've committed a crime so I just don't say anything at all and I seclude myself. I rarely ever tell how I'm feeling because of the guilt, fear and regret I feel afterward. I'm scared that my sensitivity is turning into paranoia because I'm always feeling like I'm being attacked. I fear that I'm going to drive myself crazy because I keep all of this anger pinned up inside and I don't know how to release it properly. I don't know why I'm this way or how I can change but I feel like this is one of the major things contributing to my problems in life. So my question again, is it normal to be this way?