Hi Fuzzybear. I don't find you particularly outspoken, but at the same time you do share your thoughts and feelings when you clearly need/want to. I believe that in a separate thread you created on this topic, I mentioned that being outspoken is not always a bad thing. I consider myself to be more outspoken than many people I come across. I assume I'm more so than you, but of course I only know you through this forum. Of course I try not to express my views in aggressive ways, but sometimes they can be taken as such, and on rare occasions they are over the line. I do find myself to be a passionate-type person. Passion has its spectrum. Like being outspoken, sometimes passion is a good thing, and sometimes it's too much.

I pride myself on having the courage to share my thoughts more freely than many others do. Sometimes such thoughts need to be put out there, again, preferably in a diplomatic or ultimately helpful way. My moods have been referred to as "expansive". That's common in people with bipolar disorder, especially during hypomania/mania. Perhaps I can also attribute that tendency a bit to nurture, as well. I was a youngest child, almost six and seven years younger than my siblings. It was common for me to be blamed or teased for things. I dealt with bullies at different times of my life. I had to fight or flight or put up. Sometimes I did some of all three, but would fight when I really needed to and wouldn't be afraid to do so. But that tendency need not label me (or similar people) as "bad". Some even respect such fighters.

Are you sure that those people calling you "outspoken" mean it in a bad way? Or are you taking it as such? Perhaps they are not even using the right word to communicate their thoughts about your communication. They are clearly outspoken enough to be throwing out adjectives like "outspoken". If their main objective is to shut you up in a mean way, then THAT is aggressive of them. If they feel hurt, offended, annoyed, or some other feeling, by those who freely express emotions/opinions/etc, it would seem that they should discuss it more thoroughly.

I've received frank feedback on my behavior that I didn't like. Sometimes I've had to do some self examination. It can take time. Sometimes it helps to get additional viewpoints. I, like most others, have sometimes had to walk things back, apologize, or explain things better. Other times, I held my guns. I've been called "over the top", "overwhelming", and such. During the heat of hypomania/mania that has elicited anger responses from me. But truth is, some of those times I was those excesses. I had to step back a bit, but not let it drain all of the fuel out of me. Sometimes there is a great gift in getting negative feedback. It's not always immediately apparent, but it can be later down the line.