--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's like I have a sensor in my head, but…" description: "\"“It's like I have a sensor in my head, but she works on a seven-second delay... well-meaning, but perpetually about seven seconds too late to actually ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg" --- # It's like I have a sensor in my head, but she works on a… ![“It's like I have a sensor in my head, but she works on a seven-second delay... well-meaning, but perpetually about seven seconds too late to actually do anything to stop the horrific avalanche of shit-you-shouldn't- say-out-loud-but-I-just-did.” quote by Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg) > ““It's like I have a sensor in my head, but she works on a seven-second delay... well-meaning, but perpetually about seven seconds too late to actually do anything to stop the horrific avalanche of shit-you-shouldn't- say-out-loud-but-I-just-did.”” [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes a delayed internal alarm that reacts too late to prevent a cascade of harmful thoughts and words. **In simple terms:** Delayed mental warning system that’s often too late. Key Takeaway Recognize and address thoughts before they spiral. Themes mental health self-awareness communication Mood anxious reflective Type personal advice When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - mindfulness practice - support groups - emergency coping strategies Key Concepts cognitive delay self-regulation emotional overflow Questions to Reflect On - How can you train quicker self-intervention? - What external tools can reduce the reaction time? A Different Perspective The delay may be caused by underlying neurological or psychological factors not easily fixed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Delay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delay/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Second Delay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-delay-832386/) [Seconds Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seconds-late-832384/) [Seven Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-second-832385/) [Seven Seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-seconds-708333/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [I think FB should have a '5 second delay' after hitting ENTER; giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janie-ortiz/i-think-fb-should-have-a-5-second-delay-after-hitting-enter-giving/) [Janie Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janie-ortiz/) > [Fantasy is an 'F' word that hopefully the five second delay won't do anything with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/fantasy-is-an-f-word-that-hopefully-the-five-second-delay-won-t-do/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [ The \[Five Second Rule\] has many variations, including The Three Second Rule, The Seven Second Rule, and the extremely handy and versatile The However… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-pasricha/the-five-second-rule-has-many-variations-including-the-three-second/) [Neil Pasricha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-pasricha/) > [They say that you make a first impression after the first 7 seconds. To avoid this, I always show up 7 seconds late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/they-say-that-you-make-a-first-impression-after-the-first-7-seconds/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Often when we realize how precious those seconds are, it's too late for them to be captured because the moment has passed. We realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/often-when-we-realize-how-precious-those-seconds-are-it-s-too-late/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Mahoney: "Thirty-seven seconds. Great, well done; now we wait." Mr. Magorium: "No, we breathe, we pulse, we regenerate. our hearts beat, our minds create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-weyn/mahoney-thirty-seven-seconds-great-well-done-now-we-wait-mr-magorium/) [Suzanne Weyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-weyn/) > [Friends: a seven letter word that I couldnt live seven seconds without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narenkumar/friends-a-seven-letter-word-that-i-couldnt-live-seven-seconds-without/) [Narenkumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narenkumar/) > [I did die once, for seven seconds, after a burst appendix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-kyle/i-did-die-once-for-seven-seconds-after-a-burst-appendix/) [Jeremy Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-kyle/) > [Sometimes, you go out there and get knocked out in the first seven seconds. That might be one out of 10 times, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/sometimes-you-go-out-there-and-get-knocked-out-in-the-first-seven/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [There's nothing stupider than bursting into song for seven seconds and then falling silent again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/there-s-nothing-stupider-than-bursting-into-song-for-seven-seconds/) [Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/) > [“If you can, I implore you to watch this scene. It’s seven seconds long. Three hours. Thirty-two takes. And it was only the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/if-you-can-i-implore-you-to-watch-this-scene-it-s-seven-seconds-long/) [Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/) > [“Within a few seconds, women know if they would ever sleep with a man. With Reed, it seemed every seven seconds that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentine-glass/within-a-few-seconds-women-know-if-they-would-ever-sleep-with-a-man/) [Valentine Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentine-glass/) > [“Seven seconds. Seven measly seconds. that's how long it took Trump to dismiss a lie he told for five years. He did not apologize.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/seven-seconds-seven-measly-seconds-that-s-how-long-it-took-trump-to/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) > [If you hug someone for seven seconds, it gives you a chemical drop in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-dohrn/if-you-hug-someone-for-seven-seconds-it-gives-you-a-chemical-drop-in/) [Walt Dohrn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-dohrn/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More by Jenny Lawson > [the most terribly human moments - the ones we want to pretend never happened - are the very moments that make us who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/the-most-terribly-human-moments-the-ones-we-want-to-pretend-never/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [“I MADE MY CATS A WATER BED OUT OF A ZIPLOC BAG AND A SHOEBOX. 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Because they're the ones who helped you put them there." And sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/a-friend-is-someone-who-knows-where-all-your-bodies-are-buried/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) [Explore all 132 Jenny Lawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's like I have a sensor in my head, but she works on a seven-second delay... well-meaning, but perpetually about seven seconds too late to actually do anything to stop the horrific avalanche of shit-you-shouldn't- say-out-loud-but-I-just-did.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jenny Lawson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but-she-works-on-a-seven-second/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but-she-works-on-a-seven-second/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/jenny-lawson-3391_anxiety_it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but_2478108.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's like I have a sensor in my head, but she works on a seven-second delay... well-meaning, but perpetually…” — Jenny Lawson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jenny Lawson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's like I have a sensor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but-she-works-on-a-seven-second/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/it-s-like-i-have-a-sensor-in-my-head-but-she-works-on-a-seven-second/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```