Hyper Sensitive 19 Year Old (suicide attempt mtn)

[ColwynsMommy]

Hi everyone -

No, I don't have a 19 year old.. I'm talking about my sister. When she was very little, her doctor labeled her as hypersensitive (which is why I use that term). She has always taken everything personally, and had a very ego-centric view of the world (moreso than most kids.. I'm only 26, so I remember all too well the world-revolves-around-me stuff from my own childhood/teen years). She has a lot of trouble considering others needs above her own sometimes. She's also very very shy, and has told my mom that some of the time she was in high school, she could go a whole day without talking to anyone.

This has gotten better over the years, and two or three years ago she started taking anti-depressants (I don't know the full story, but partly due to her social anxiety, and partly due to grief/guilt over a childhood friend dying after a long illness when they were 13). She's been in an on-again off-again relationship with a really nice kid, but they recently split up because she had a hard time letting go of something he had done. About a week after they broke up, she took 17 Xanax. After talking with the psych worker in the hospital, they concluded it wasn't a serious suicide attempt, just a bid for attention.

So, my parents have always given her lots of love, patience, and support. I think they're kind of at a loss for how to deal with her, though. They'd like to do family counseling with her, so they can learn some strategies to help her cope and to help them cope with her sensitivity/overreactions. Unfortunately, there are issues with the insurance so I don't know if that'll actually happen.

I know there are books about sensitive children, but I'm wondering if there's a book or something I can point them to that might help.

I also want to apologize if anything I've said has been offensive to anyone.. I'm honestly trying to help, and I don't necessarily know the right terms for this sort of stuff. I'll admit, I'm also a bit worried about my youngest, as he's VERY much like she was as a baby (extreme colic, reflux, easily hurt feelings, and so much more).. so anything I can to do prepare..

Thanks!

[sebandg'smama]

I'm sorry for what you and your family are going through. It can be so hard to find ways to support those we love.

I really recommend "The Highly Sensitive Person".
The author's website is "http://www.hsperson.com/".
She also has a book "The Highly Sensitive Child" which I found very helpful in understanding my ds better.

Best of luck to you,
Melanie

[Arduinna]

ITA with the previous poster, The Highly Sensitive Person is a must read.

[Emma's_Mommy]

its sounds like, to me, that your sister really could use someone to talk to and confide in...she was obvously very much emotionally attached to this boy and maybe helping her deal with her loss would be the best thing you could do for her right now.

my brother is like that in a way...he's alot more emotional and sensitive to things than i was at that age, so maybe send your sister some flowers, take her out to random lunches, and just spend some quality time with her would really help her alot.

it sounds to me like she needs a good friend than another parental unit right now....and by the sounds of your post your parents have the parental part under control!