--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am both numb and oversensitive…" description: "\"“I am both numb and oversensitive, overwhelmed by the need, the raw and desperate need of the girls I am listening to and trying to help. I'm overdosin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/rachel-lloyd-34047_cry_i-am-both-numb-and-oversensitive-overwhe_142687.jpg" --- # I am both numb and oversensitive, overwhelmed by the need… ![“I am both numb and oversensitive, overwhelmed by the need, the raw and desperate need of the girls I am listening to and trying to help. I'm overdosing on the trauma of others, while still barely healing from my own. I cry for hour at home and have fitful nights of little sleep. My nightmares…” quote by Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/rachel-lloyd-34047_cry_i-am-both-numb-and-oversensitive-overwhe_142687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/rachel-lloyd-34047_cry_i-am-both-numb-and-oversensitive-overwhe_142687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/rachel-lloyd-34047_cry_i-am-both-numb-and-oversensitive-overwhe_142687.jpg) > ““I am both numb and oversensitive, overwhelmed by the need, the raw and desperate need of the girls I am listening to and trying to help. I'm overdosing on the trauma of others, while still barely healing from my own. I cry for hour at home and have fitful nights of little sleep. My nightmares resurface as my own pain is repeated to me, magnified a thousand times. It feels insurmountable. How can you save everyone? How can you rescue them? How do you get over your pain? How do you ever feel normal?”” [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empathy overload can overwhelm helpers; personal healing is needed before rescuing others. **In simple terms:** Helping others can overwhelm; heal yourself first. Key Takeaway Prioritize self‑care. Themes empathy trauma boundaries Mood empathetic exhausted Type reflective cautionary When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - personal therapy Key Concepts psychology self‑care Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your own wellbeing? - When do you step back? A Different Perspective Saving everyone is impossible; set realistic limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girls/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Nightmares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmares/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numb/) [Numb Oversensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numb-oversensitive-1608827/) [Overdosing Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overdosing-trauma-1608825/) [Oversensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oversensitive/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Rescue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rescue/) [Rescue Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rescue-pain-1608826/) [Sand Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sand-time/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) [Trauma Barely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma-barely-1608828/) ## Related quotes > [God did not rescue me out of the pain, He rescued me through the pain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/god-did-not-rescue-me-out-of-the-pain-he-rescued-me-through-the-pain/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be-oversensitive-in-the-face-of/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Imagination makes people oversensitive,vulnerable and exposed. Perhaps it's a form of degeneracy. I have never held the shortcomings of the unimaginative against them. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlen-haushofer/imagination-makes-people-oversensitive-vulnerable-and-exposed-perhaps/) [Marlen Haushofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlen-haushofer/) > [Of course I do, you silly, oversensitive girl. Doesn't everyone? I feel like there's a line behind me, jockeying for position, waiting for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-cullen/of-course-i-do-you-silly-oversensitive-girl-doesn-t-everyone-i-feel/) [Edward Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-cullen/) > [“Everybody is sensitive but you cannot tickle yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/everybody-is-sensitive-but-you-cannot-tickle-yourself/) [Dr.P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [Some kids get called 'bundles of joy' or 'slices of heaven' or 'dreams come true.' We got 'the fifty-fourth generation of DNA experiments.' Doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/some-kids-get-called-bundles-of-joy-or-slices-of-heaven-or-dreams/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [My wife accuses me - and she's probably right - that I'm sometimes oversensitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/my-wife-accuses-me-and-she-s-probably-right-that-i-m-sometimes/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [“It's not 'over-sensitivity' to ask to be treated with the same dignity and respect shown to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/it-s-not-over-sensitivity-to-ask-to-be-treated-with-the-same-dignity/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [The best Defense against being oversensitive is having great sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/the-best-defense-against-being-oversensitive-is-having-great-sense-of/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [Who knows what oversensitive is, considering all there is to be sensitive to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-maxwell/who-knows-what-oversensitive-is-considering-all-there-is-to-be/) [William Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-maxwell/) > [“Perhaps you’re being oversensitive and a bit overdramatic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/perhaps-you-re-being-oversensitive-and-a-bit-overdramatic/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [Comedians are ridiculously oversensitive, so, especially with the Internet, you feel everything, like a spider on a web going, 'Oh God, I'm getting stomped'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/comedians-are-ridiculously-oversensitive-so-especially-with-the/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I had worked on the markets with my father before going to university, so I possessed an apparent street-smartness, had access to a colourful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/i-had-worked-on-the-markets-with-my-father-before-going-to-university/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [I felt accidents make a person strong but realized they make a person oversensitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukulika-mahajan/i-felt-accidents-make-a-person-strong-but-realized-they-make-a-person/) [Mukulika Mahajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukulika-mahajan/) > [I was a different kind of kid, oversensitive and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-james/i-was-a-different-kind-of-kid-oversensitive-and-all-that/) [Brion James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-james/) ## More by Rachel Lloyd > [“Sing me a pretty love song as I start to cry Tell me you love me as you wipe the blood from my eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/sing-me-a-pretty-love-song-as-i-start-to-cry-tell-me-you-love-me-as/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [I think a huge part is how we're socialized growing up to see our value and worth as being tied into a relationship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/i-think-a-huge-part-is-how-we-re-socialized-growing-up-to-see-our/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [Even in New York City, we've seen some major improvements from the way the system was 20 years ago. There's still a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/even-in-new-york-city-we-ve-seen-some-major-improvements-from-the-way/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [An important documentary that sheds light on one of the most terrifying realities in the U.S. today—the commercial sexual exploitation of young girls. TRICKED…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/an-important-documentary-that-sheds-light-on-one-of-the-most/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [Every age, race, socio-economic background of men are 'johns.' It's a little more complicated who's doing the selling. The truth is that the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/every-age-race-socio-economic-background-of-men-are-johns-it-s-a/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [Girls weren’t drug addicted, they were love addicted, and that, I’ll learn, is far harder to treat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/girls-weren-t-drug-addicted-they-were-love-addicted-and-that-i-ll/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [“Every new encounter provides a new mirror for me to view my own experiences through, and there is a level of selfishness during this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/every-new-encounter-provides-a-new-mirror-for-me-to-view-my-own/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [If we're going to address trafficking in our country we have to address poverty, racism & gender based violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/if-we-re-going-to-address-trafficking-in-our-country-we-have-to/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [“..you may not be able to choose your family or origin but you can choose your family of creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/you-may-not-be-able-to-choose-your-family-or-origin-but-you-can/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [“In 1973, Jan Erik Olsson walked into a small bank in Stockholm, Sweden, brandishing a gun, wounding a police officer, and taking three women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/in-1973-jan-erik-olsson-walked-into-a-small-bank-in-stockholm-sweden/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [Over time I learned that there were a lot of people who would judge you, blame you, and try to make you feel lesser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/over-time-i-learned-that-there-were-a-lot-of-people-who-would-judge/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [I think boys and men are socialized very differently rather than girls and are trained not to show their emotions in the same way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/i-think-boys-and-men-are-socialized-very-differently-rather-than/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [“Children who are victimized through sexual abuse often begin to develop deeply held tenets that shape their sense of self: 'My worth is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/children-who-are-victimized-through-sexual-abuse-often-begin-to/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) [Explore all 14 Rachel Lloyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) ## More Cry quotes > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-then-theres-always-the-crying-and-the-weeping-that-we-hear/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I cry at the end of every book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/i-cry-at-the-end-of-every-book/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [ The most important thing I learned \[...\] was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-extence/the-most-important-thing-i-learned-was-that-when-a-person-dies-he/) [Gavin Extence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-extence/) > [I would have done anything for him. Maybe that was my sickness. We made love in nothing places and turned the lights off. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-would-have-done-anything-for-him-maybe-that-was-my-sickness-we-made/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 4,998 Cry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I am both numb and oversensitive, overwhelmed by the need, the raw and desperate need of the girls I am listening to and trying to help. I'm overdosing on the trauma of others, while still barely healing from my own. I cry for hour at home and have fitful nights of little sleep. 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