Well articulated, RC. (Alas, I’m still a mess but just popped in to read really quickly.) I’m much like you. Our sensitivity is both a blessing and a curse. I have gotten better in recent years, however, with not lingering for too long on bad feelings from something someone said. I actually think I was forced into it though, as any stress or bad emotions seem to exacerbate my loathsome chronic illness symptoms. So I try to remember that I’m just a domesticated house cat living in a Pit Bull world.