Posted by leeran on April 10, 2003, at 20:00:22
In reply to to the sensitive ones, posted by yourshadowself on April 10, 2003, at 18:40:10
Yourshadowself -
I hope I didn't come off as sounding like I think that only children have the corner on sensitivity.
As an only child, I can only relay my experiences based on my own reality - and now, in measure, to that of my son's reality (or the part of it that I'm made privy to).
I've met sensitive people of either gender, all ages, every birth order, and with (and without) depression and/or mental illness. In general, I think birth order can influence some behaviors but obviously there are other circumstances that can play a much larger role in forming personality.
I didn't even know what birth order was until I went to marriage counseling with my first husband and it was the first question out of the therapist's mouth. Many of his observations (based on my birth order as well as my ex-husband's) were right on target. The therapist even told me that my ultimate "mate" would have been another first-born.
As it turns out, I am remarried, to a first-born, but that had nothing to do with the attraction . . . or did it? Who knows?
On another note, I will be gnawing on this statement of yours this evening: “my friends have also always accused me of reading into things. I attribute this to OCD and depression.”
You are probably quite right about that. For me, there’s a fine line between being analytical and “anal-lytical.” I usually manage to cross over the line every single time! I never realized I was obsessive-compulsive until a few years ago but when I look back at some of the behaviors of my early childhood (all the way up until yesterday – lol) I have to shake my head (over and over and over and over again) in wonderment. As an adult I’ve tried to relive those moments in order to really examine a few of those patterns/behaviors. I now realize it had a lot to do with feeling petrified about everything, and trying to gain some kind of control over my destiny – even in first grade! Yep, definitely sounds like OCD, but I have never considered that I might have also been depressed at that age as well.
I like your user name. It sounds a bit reminiscent of Debbie Ford’s book “The Light Side of the Shadow Chasers.” Have you read that book?
Thank you for your response. I’m very new here, too – and I like the openness that exists on this board. I go through different cycles it seems. Right now I’m in the “reflective” cycle and visiting this board has helped me examine myself a bit closer than usual (mental spring cleaning).
poster:leeran
thread:218105
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030407/msgs/218362.html