what does being 'oversensitive' mean?

[reeay]

To me, personally, it means having this global sense that the world is dangerous (unsafe) and emotionally distressing. Very subtle cues become amplified into emotionally overwhelming experience. People around me sensed my uncertainty & distress, and treated me like a total wreck, which helped reinforce this view that I was indeed unsafe and unable to deal. Experience of empathy can also be an issue. Not knowing where I begin and end & other person begins.

Self-soothing during these emotionally distressing times and setting boundaries (by knowing 'who I am') were very helpful for me growing up. Being oversensitive helped me to develop a strong curiosity around understanding 'who I am', a thicker skin, and being self-reliant to sooth self. Can handle intense, chaotic, and crises situations well bc I know how to maintain center-balance. But I need lots of re-charging time alone.

I think the underlying issue for me was something to do with my mother's emotional distress when I was born & also to a traumatic experience of being harshly punished in pre-school by a teacher. It explained why I had school-refusal in preschool and how I would get upset if someone tagged me during recess time (while playing 'it'). People thought I was disturbed :p