*Raises hand*

Yes, I have "fit" into the empath or HSP description since I was very young. Unfortunately, being a HSP/caretaker/empath ended up with me being badly hurt too many times. Now (I'm 51) I struggle quite a bit with feeling self-protective. And jaded. In large part, my psychic abilities frighten me. I find myself at a strange place in my life.

I'm grateful, fairydustgirl, for this thread. In the seven months I've been on this forum I do believe this is the very first thread that really touched my soul on a personal level.