AIBU to ask how to become less sensitive?

[Difficult2018]

I’ve always been quite sensitive (crying at good and bad things at the drop of a hat) but lately I just can’t handle any kind of criticism and find my anxiety about what others think of me spiralling out if control! I didn’t realise what was wrong until someone gave me some really kind, gentle advice about a hobby (which is totally valid) and it’s broken me. I had to completely focus to not just cry, and to remind myself that that one moment doesn’t make me shit at that hobby, or a shit person. It was then I realised I have always done this to criticism, of any kind, and often do it to the thought of someone criticising me, beating myself up with what I imagine others to think of me. How can I build myself up to stop doing this to myself! It’s crazy! 😭

Plenty of thinks can make us feel vulnerable and find criticism difficult. If you recognise you arent good at it then then thing to do would be to take a deep breath and try and reframe the words. So if they say you are really bad at drawing birds then you reframe it as you are great at drawing cats but need to work in drawing birds, for example.
Also the thing they say is a criticism may actually be a strength depending on how you look at it...often things are a matter of perspective.

Is it because you take it personally? STOP IT! Its not a criticism of you but they way that you do xyz. Its nothing to do with you as a person!

Exposure. The more you are in situations that make you anxious the more resilient you will become. Your brain will engage before your automatic emotional response. Disclaimer: based on personal experience. I'm not an expert

Meditate, very new to it, but i am becoming much calmer and less bothered by other people's actions/words/what I imagine they think of me. I use headspace app.

Op so sorry you are going through some struggles. Some people are more sensitive than others. It’s not necessarily a bad thing as you are likely to have a lot more empathy and kindness. Both wonderful traits.

But if you feel like you need to build your resilience (rather than being less sensitive you might like to see a therapist.

I’m the same. I’ve had a difficult mental health journey over the past couple of years. I repeat patterns throughout my life, mainly stemming from narcissist mother. It’s taken a lot of work with two different therapists but I feel like a new person.

Can you see a counsellor? You can usually self refer if you don't want to see the gp or pay privately.

Thank you all so much! Yeah, I’ve done some CBT within the last year based on the pressure I put on myself to always do what people want and how much guilt I put on myself, but feel like it’s just transferred itself into this nonesense! It’s so frustrating, before I had my DD (2 in April) I literally got my dream job (leadership within a primary school) was rocking life and felt so proud of myself, was so confident and happy and it’s been a bit of a journey with ups and downs but atm it just feels like I’m super sensitive. I take criticism a lot at work and can often separate it but it’s becoming very challenging. Maybe meditation would help 😊 I’m sure I can be the positive person I know I am, again.