As a highly sensitive person, I have always felt suffocated by practically any kind of conflict. The intensity and negativity of a conflict-ridden situation would darken my mood, and I would feel paralyzed.

For example, many years ago, one of my co-workers seemed to be on a mission to make my life a living hell. This person knew exactly what to say to push my buttons. As a result, I was riddled with self-doubt, and I dreaded coming to work each day. I wish I could say that I handled the situation successfully, but the truth is that I eventually quit the job. Although walking away is sometimes the healthiest thing to do, it seemed an extreme measure at the time. Perhaps if I had known about my HSP nature and had better strategies to resolve the conflict, I would have dealt with the situation differently. (more…)