You need to toughen up.
My sensitivity is a fact, like gravity. It's not a moral failing I can just decide to fix.
What it made you think
My feelings are wrong and a burden to others. I am too much, and my internal reality is unacceptable.
The True Story
Your capacity to feel is not a weakness. You are not required to shrink your reality to make others more comfortable.
What is happening in your system?
My system registers this as a social threat. The person who is supposed to be safe is now telling me that my internal alarm system is faulty and should be ignored, which feels isolating and unsafe.
What changes in you...
I learn not to share vulnerable feelings or signs of distress with this person. I become more withdrawn and guarded to avoid the pain of having my reality questioned again.
How can I navigate this in the moment?
A few ways to respond when this lands. Take whichever feels right, or none at all.
The Low-Battery Out
Okay. I need a minute.
The Honest Explanation
I know you mean well. For me, this is a physical feeling, not just an emotion I can decide to turn off.
Drawing the Line
I'm not looking for feedback on my feelings right now. We need to stop this conversation.
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