Bob I know how you feel... I sometimes go all day feeling ok then watch the news at night. Its all bad after that..

Maybe we should have a gallery bob, eh? ;) When you read about many of the famous artists, they were plagued with mental/nervous illness and being hyper-sensitive. It can really frustrate me when someone asks "what does it feel like to be agoraphobic" so, what I do now, is get them to look at a poster I have called "The Scream" by Edvard Munch - to me, that just about sums it all up!! To anyone walking along on that scene everything is calm and peaceful, but the way the reds are used and the famous "scream" on the face - that just about says it all!! My ambition though is, one day, to try to draw/paint/write the reverse side of that - freedom or elation!! One day!! Take care, Wendy xxxx

Hi everyone...thanks for your comments. It's nice to know that others are hyper-sensitive to emotions :). I can talk my way through many of the physical symptoms, but my emotions are much harder to handle. Windigo - I also like the comment your therapist mentioned...I need to see the positive of side of being sensitive/imaginative. I'm going to make the attempt to try drawing my emotions. I'm used to journaling, but drawing sounds like a neat idea...

:) I'd love to know how you get on redface!! Wendy xxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you Windigo, I'll try...and yes, my husband and I used to get together a lot with our friends and play all the old Beatles tunes too...love it! There's something out there connecting all the musicians, artists, writers, etc...feelings and thoughts that need expression.....Love, Redface

Erm ...... how did I do THAT?!?!? I didn't mean to post my message twice - sorrrryyyyyy!! Wendy xx

Awwwwwwww redface!! What a lovely message - THANK YOU!! And I'm sorry to hear you're on a downer today. I'm no great artist myself but I do run an art club for kids (voluntarily) aged 8 upwards. I thought I'd get their imaginations working yesterday and took along the words and music to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" [The Beatles] - I was horrified when most of them said they'd never heard of The Beatles, kaleidoscopes or marshmallows (bless 'em) - but what saddened me the most was, like you and I, they didn't have a clue (to begin with)on putting their imagination/thoughts onto paper. I saw most of them covering their piece of paper - just in case anyone saw what they were going to draw. I guess we've all been so used to being told from a young age upwards not to "colour outside the lines" etc - and that things have to be done a certain way - grrrr!! To lighten them up a little I asked them to just scribble on the paper whilst they were listening to the music - again, they thought I was mad - tee hee - but they were having fun, and not feeling so self conscious. Then I asked them to look at the scribbles and see if they could see anything in them ...... the results were amazing - we could have written a best selling novel!! I think the point I'm trying to make here, redface, is that we should stop comparing ourselves and our work - we're all unique individuals. It doesn't matter WHAT anyone says or thinks about your creations, they're yours, after all, eh? And if just scribbling on a piece of paper gets all the weird and wonderful stuff "out", that's great isn't it. I remember my first attempt at working with oils - eeuww - I ended up with a horrible brown splodge on the canvas and immediately felt useless, especially as Rembrandt managed to turn out such brilliant works of art!! Just try experimenting and, above all, have fun!! Mind you, I'm a right one to talk, I've just been going through some CDs, put Tubular Bells on, and ended up bawling my eyes out!! You'll get there redface, honestly!! Tons of love and understanding, Wendy, windigo, watchumacallit - you call me whatever you like, cos I'll answer, honestly!! xxxxxxxxxx Ooooh - I've gone Beatle-mad here - have you ever heard Strawberry Fields? I think if you listen to John Lennon's wo

Sorry, I meant Windigo....not Wendy!

Wendy! Thank you for your thoughts. I especially liked what your therapist said...- "Fear is the price you have to pay for being born over-sensitive, imaginative and creative. Consider what talents you may be hiding and learn to express your emotions through them." For me, if something triggers off anger or sadness etc, I try to draw it!! I too feel that that is the case; and I have been trying despirately for the last l 1/2 years to learn what my creative talents are, and do them. I started with an art class, but it didn't work out, because I was not expressing my own thoughts or feelings; I was being made to copy the teacher's method. Not only that, but I didn't agree with the method, and since I had to have my friend translate everything, and she was getting disturbed about that, I quit. Then I painted at home, and it was o.k. for a while, but then I got a few negative comments about my work, and gave up on that too. I also tried writing poetry, and deep study and analysis of various topics, but still cannot find my path. After reading your note, I feel inspired again to try putting my feelings down on the canvas, or on paper somehow....I really feel lost and don't know what to do. I am afraid that if I do, I will expose a part of me that I don't like or don't want others to see....but anyway, I still feel like I've got to find a way to express these extreme emotions, or I will self destruct! I feel very depressed today due to feeling panicky. But I was very comforted that someone out there (your therapist) I believe is on the right track, and I've got to get those feelings out there somehow...especially the ones I cannot seem to verbalize...Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your fellow emotional overloaded person...

Bob, thanks for putting your message on here - it's good to know I'm not the only one who is so sensitive!! I've been seeing a hypnotherapist for relaxation - I can't afford it but have been on a waiting list for nearly a year to see a psychologist! She said something yesterday that may ring a bell with you all - "Fear is the price you have to pay for being born over-sensitive, imaginative and creative. Consider what talents you may be hiding and learn to express your emotions through them." For me, if something triggers off anger or sadness etc, I try to draw it!! Sometimes it resembles nothing, sometimes it looks like a masterpiece - but it doesn't matter what it looks like really, I've managed to get the feelings out of my head and insides and onto paper! Another thing I tend to use is music. I love all types of music but if I'm feeling angry I might blast out the 1812 Overture!!, or a whole host of other music to fit other emotions. What I didn't realise though is that it's probably better to put something mind-numbingly boring on the stero!! I was explaining to my hypnotherapist that, at times, if I'm feeling "good" and have a really up-beat piece of music on (not necessarily classical, maybe a Jimi Hendrix song ;) ) that my heart will start racing and I can quite easily feel very, very dizzy!! She sort of explained that it's the old adrenalin and breathing that's causing these symptoms and then said: "Ancient Egyptians called music 'The physic of the soul' and that Plato said that health in mind and body could be obtained through music!! Anger etc raises blood pressure - music loers it; Anger interrupts flow of gastric juices - music aids digestive processes; Anger causes tension in muscles - music has a relaxing effect." Soooo, I'm going to look for some less-inspiring music for times when I'm feeling over-emotional!! By the way, I don't watch the news or read newspapers now either!! Sorry to have typed so much - just thought the above might help someone, somewhere!! Take care all. Wendy xx