You seem to be very self-critical (have high expectations). Pain is pain. I don't think your pain is less valid than any other persons pain. It appears to me that you're beating yourself up about how you think you should have been - you have regrets. You also have an image of how you should be right now and because you aren't where you want to be you turn on yourself. You get very self-critical. You fight against your innate personality, there is nothing wrong with being sensitive. I'm hypersensitive myself (it's never going to go away) and I had to work through a ton of self-criticism issues and as well as social anxiety issues. It takes time (I still have trigger moments). You need to learn how to not take things so personally because people are going to make judgments (or you think they're making judgments about you). You can't really stop them...you can become defensive/angry of course, but it's usually best to work towards changing your own mindset and underlying issues. Big hugs to you. Be patient and good to yourself xx