Loved all of this. Thank you. I actually quit my job because I was constantly walking on eggshells with my boss and felt she hated me. In reality, I think that's just her personality - really flat and not big on communication. The lack of positive feedback fueled my anxiety as someone who looks to others for validation. I can now recognize this and sometimes wonder if my oversensitivity and the stories I made up in my head about the situation sabotaged my ability to hold a job. I've noticed this pattern throughout my life. With therapy, it's improving, but these lifelong brain pathways are hard to change without constant challenging, like you say.