You’re Not ‘Too Sensitive.’ You’re Unregulated.

For years, I was told I was "too sensitive." That I overreacted. That I needed to toughen up.

But I wasn't too sensitive. My nervous system was dysregulated.

When you have ADHD or CPTSD, your emotional regulation system doesn't work the way it does for neurotypical people. Small triggers can feel like existential threats. Minor criticism can feel like total rejection. A change in plans can feel like the world is ending.

This isn't a character flaw. It's a nervous system that's stuck in survival mode, interpreting everything as a potential danger.

The solution isn't to "toughen up" or suppress your emotions. It's to regulate your nervous system. To teach your body that it's safe. To build the capacity to feel your emotions without being overwhelmed by them.

This takes time. It takes therapy, breathwork, movement, and a lot of self-compassion. But it's possible. You're not broken. You're just working with a different operating system.

Have you ever been told you're "too sensitive"? How did it make you feel?