I can see the concept of accepting that one is a highly sensitive person and working with that personality trait. In fact, you might consider these books in that regard if you don't already know of them (check out the reviews first though, not everyone likes these books, but you can decide whether or not they would work for you):

The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide: Essential Skills for Living Well in an Overstimulating World (Step-By-Step Guides): Ted Zeff PhD, Elaine Aron PhD: 9781572243965: Amazon.com: Books

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...itive%20person

On the topic of crying, though, I think your position is that it interferes with your life and you don't want to accept that, you want to change.

It sounds like it will take some effort to change, though, because crying has been functional and therefore reinforcing for you in the past, particularly with regard to your father. In the past, it was a form of self-preservation, self-defense, and in some ways maybe it still is.

I would say that the first thing to do is to be aware of it, without judgment. For a while, long enough to document a full and accurate picture, my suggestion is to keep a list of sorts; briefly jot down how the situation developed and what happened right before you started to cry.

No matter what happens, do not judge yourself for crying; this reaction helped you when you were growing up and now you are just going to move on from that reaction because in most situations it isn't as helpful now as it was when you were growing up.

(Do you still cry with your parents? If so, please speak a bit about that.)

Here are a few questions about this situation:

1. What stopped you from reacting immediately?
2. How much (if at all) does yelling get you upset when it is not directed at you?
3. How much did you get yelled at growing up?

Thanks!