I’m learning that being told “you’re too sensitive” and other such remarks is considered gaslighting. However, as autistic individuals, we are known for being highly sensitive, both with perceptions and emotions. So, I find myself wondering if perhaps I need to consider that I am more sensitive than the general population and accommodate what I see as their insensitivity, dismissiveness, and blame-shifting.
How do you handle being told “you’re too sensitive”?
What do you think would be a healthy response?
Find people to talk to about it and try to figure out if the problem is really you or if it’s them and they’re trying to put you down for it.
Getting really defensive will make people feel like they’re right.
So I followed this advice and talked to 2 friends and an autism therapist. They all agreed that the environment was unhealthy and that I could benefit from getting further away from that. In fact, the therapist was pretty clear on how unhealthy she thought it was, using professional psychological terms and everything. She was even able to predict things about them that we hadn’t talked about, so it was convincing.